Chapter 2

The Sheriff's Outrage

I followed Annie to the dungeon when she went to give the rest of the food to our prisoner, Roy. I could only get so close without being noticed so I could not hear everything. They did, however, confirm my suspicions. Guy and Annie did indeed have a child. Now, all I had to do was figure out if that was the same child Robin Hood had.

After Annie left, I stepped in. A guard did spot me but I knew he couldn't do anything. After all, I was allowed in the dungeons.

"Leave us," I ordered him.

He nodded and went on his way, closing the door behind him.

Having captured Roy's attention, he looked up at me with his pitiful eyes and gulped. "I suppose I should feel honored the sheriff's very own ward decided to pay me a visit."

I smiled and attempted to sound warming as I knelt down beside him. "Just call me Lacey. Everyone else does."

"Wh… what do you want?" he demanded with a stutter.

"I only came to ask of the child," I began, "the one Robin Hood carried with him."

He shook his head and said in a shaken tone, "I'm not telling you anything."

"Please," I continued, grabbing one of the bars, "Annie is a good friend of mine. If that child is hers, I want to help."

Roy only glared at me in suspicion. "You expect me to believe you, of all people, would befriend a girl that works in the kitchen?"

I rolled my eyes and huffed. I suppose I should have known that would not be a convincing lie.

"Alright fine, we're not really friends," I admitted, "but I can still help you if you help me."

Although he still appeared suspicious, he asked, "How will me telling you about that baby help you?"

"Because its something I have against his father," I explained, "and trust me, if I can take down Guy of Gisborne, Nottingham will be better for you and your friends."

"Oh really," Roy muttered in an unconvinced tone, "and why's that?"

"Because if I win, Vaisey will name me the next Sheriff, but if I don't then there's a chance he will choose Guy instead."

Roy huffed before asking, "And how do I know you'll be any better than Gisborne or the Sheriff now?"

"Well…" I had to ponder on this for a couple moments before I could continue, "I personally like freedom. I imagine a lot of other people feel the same way. I would take that into consideration. I'll also remember how the information you will hopefully give me helped. Maybe you and your friends don't always have to be outlaws?"

"Is that it?" he asked, looking away.

"Look," I said more irritably, "I've been a little wrapped up in the competition now so I haven't had much time to think on this. You just have to trust me when I say things will be different."

Roy looked me in the eye for just a moment before taking in a deep breath, "Guy of Gisborne is the father of that baby. We found it left alone in the forest so we took it under our care."

"Guy must have left it to die to cover up his actions," I concluded in a short breath, as I stood up. "Thank you, Roy. You've been quite helpful."

vVv

The next afternoon, I went to the kitchen to find Annie. She was scrubbing plates with a cloth.

"Annie," I said from behind her, causing her to whirl around and drop the dish.

After the plate shattered on the ground, she hurried down on her knees to pick it up.

"Forgive me, my Lady, I did not know to except you," she stated, quickly.

"It's okay, Annie," I replied, kneeling beside her. "I only want to speak to you in private for a moment. Come. Someone else can get this."

As she followed me, I motioned my hand at another girl and pointed at the shattered dish. She immediately knew what I meant and scurried towards the broken plate to clean it.

Annie followed me outside in the back garden, where they grew herbs and other plants for our food. I peered in every direction to be sure no one was in hearing distance of us.

"What it is, my Lady?" Annie asked quietly.

I took in a breath before saying, "Annie, first I want you to know that I'm only here to help you."

"Help me? What do you mean?"

I looked down and admitted quietly, "I know you had a child with Guy." When she started to shake her head, I held my hand up and added, "There's no point in denying it. Guy told me himself in confidence."

Annie then asked me softly, "You haven't told anyone else, have you?"

"No." I shook my head, quickly. "Never! It's just…"

I moved my eyes down and tried to force them to tear up.

"What is it?" Annie pressed on, taking my hand.

"It's just…" I begin, trying to sound choked up. "I've always looked up to Guy as an older brother… the fact he would do something like this… it's horrible!"

"What do you mean," Annie asked me, her tone picking up dread.

I lifted my head up and looked her straight in the eye. "He left your child alone in the forest to die, Annie!"

Her eyes widened as she pulled away from me. "No… he wouldn't…"

I shook my head and went on, "I know… I didn't want to believe it, but I saw it myself… I just thought you should know."

Whether she chose to believe me at that moment or not, I still had the advantage. I knew my performance was convincing enough for Annie to at least investigate. When she discovers the truth, that will be the first step towards Guy's downfall.

Later that day, I learned Vaisey had also taken Roy's mother captive. Roy was then set free to return to Robin Hood. The Sheriff ordered Roy to either kill Robin Hood or his mother would hang at the next dawn.

I suppose I should have helped him because of our deal. However, I was too late. I guess I can do something nice for him when I become Sheriff.

vVv

It came as no surprise when I found out Roy failed to kill Robin Hood. Guy and I were both expected to attend the hanging for Roy's mother. I was annoyed with having to wake up earlier than I'm used to.

Guy stood on Vaisey's right, while I stood on his left when Roy's mother was brought to the noose. Roy and Robin were already captured, and brought to witness the hanging. However, there was still the rest of the gang.

Right as Vaisey was about to give the order, I heard a cry to my left.

"MURDERER!"

It was Annie. I turned and saw she had a knife held against Guy's throat.

"You left him in the woods to die! OUR SON, GUY!"

I covered my mouth to appear shocked and conceal my laughter. This was going even better than I imagined.

Vaisey, however, merely shook his head and muttered, "Oh Gisborne, tist, tist…"

I gasped. Seriously? That's it?

Annie cried on, "I didn't want to believe Lacey when she told me, but its true, isn't it?"

Guy briefly glared at me and shoved Annie off and pushed her against the wall, and the battle began. Robin easily broke free and started to fight. Allan attacked Guy and got Annie away from him. Instead of going after them, Guy turned to me. Before I had a chance to react, he stormed towards me and backhanded me, his leather glove slamming against my cheekbone. I fell to the ground on my side.

I used one hand to hoist myself up, while the other rubbed my cheek. He came at me again, but this time I was ready. I swung my leg and kicked him off his feet, causing him to fall on his back. I started to crawl over Guy, but he punched my chest causing me fall back. We both got to our feet. I threw a punch but I missed. His fist, however, slammed against my gut, resulting in me flying back, hitting the wooden stage used for the hanging, breaking off some of the bottom.

"Should we help her?" Allan asked, clearly baffled by our fight. "Is she fighting for us now?"

"I don't know!" Much said, throwing his hands up. "I suppose we're fighting Gisborne anyway…"

I looked at Allan and grinned, wiping some of the blood off my face. "Don't worry about me. I don't need any help."

I climbed up on the stage. Taking a running start from one side, I leapt off, using my legs to kick Guy completely to the ground. He slowly stumbled up and I kicked him again. He punched back but this time I managed to dodge it. I jumped on Guy, swinging my legs around his waist with such force we both fell to the ground, but I had him pinned. I raised my fist ready to punch his face.

"STOP IT! STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!" Vaisey thundered as he marched over and yanked me off of Guy. "They're gone now! Hood and most of his men escaped!"

I noticed Vaisey said most and looked over and saw our men had stabbed Roy to death.

Guy stood up, wiped off some of his blood, and pointed at me with a glare. "She has been plotting against me this whole time!"

I started towards him and vented to Vaisey, "He is not fit to be your successor! You heard that woman! He had a child with her and tried to cover it up!"

Guy briefly laughed and said to the Sheriff, "What right does she of all people have to accuse me of indecencies? Every week, she invites a different man to her bedchambers! It's a wonder she's had no illegitimate child of her own!"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU! I DON'T CARE!" Vaisey roared and turned to me first. I could see the spit fly from his mouth. "I don't care how many illegitimate bastards Gisborne has roaming about Nottingham," his head whirled to Guy as he added, "and I don't care how many men Lacey spreads her legs for. At the end of the day, you both answer to ME!"

When neither of us answered, Vaisey shouted, "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"Yes, Sheriff," I muttered, while Guy merely nodded.

He stormed off and Guy slowly trudged behind him. I sighed. After all this effort, it did not even matter in the end.