Chapter one

Eve was at the market when she first heard the news, when she heard of Richard's return. In her excitement, she nearly dropped her basket of eggs, however it did not matter, for the King was coming home and finally, finally things were going to be set right. Guy and the Sheriff will be punished, and the King will return to his throne and with that, the villagers will have gold in their pockets, food in their bellies and hope in their hearts and she, she'd have Much in her arms.

She rushed home, to a small cottage a few miles outside of Bonchurch. She flung open the door, grabbed her mother's hands, momentarily forgetting her weakened condition, and proceeded to spin her around. Laughing she sat her back down and breathlessly gave an explanation for the light-heartedness. Her mother's eyes filled with tears at the news and a gleeful yell was halfway out of her mouth before she was overcome with coughing. Eve's teeth clamped down on her much bitten lips and went to fetch some water. Her mother was getting worse, it wouldn't be long now. She hurriedly dashed away her tears from her eyes before faking a smile and helping her mother drink. Once she had settled down her mother smiled the warm smile that only mothers are capable of, a smile as deep as the ocean and as bright as any star, oh how I wish dear readers that I could convey this smile on paper, but since only those of us who are mothers have the wonderful gift of this smile, my short explanation will have to suffice. Eve shuffled when her mother suggested she get herself prepared for the arrival of such an important man.

Blushing Eve muttered "I hardly think the King would visit us mother."

"I was not speaking of the King." Came the whispered reply a smile laced through it. "You'd best hurry. He'll be here soon. From all the talking you do about him, I'd be surprised to find he wasn't already on his horse."

"Mama, I think he would have at least waited until he saw the King, before he saw his former servant girl." It pained the mother to hear her feel so little about herself, but refused to let it show. She knew Eve was no saint but she was her daughter and she deserved this chance for happiness, for love.

"I think he would rather see the Queen of his heart than the King of his country. Besides you described him as a man of sensitivity and passion, what could overpower the feelings from his heart?"

"Clearly you underestimate his stomach." But she did as her mother requested and set about preparing the house and herself for Much.

And later that evening, Eve became to pace, picking up speed as a horrible explanation for his tardiness arose in her mind, visions of him fighting the final battle between the Sheriff and the King and being mortally wounded…or worse plagued her. And still she waited, alternating between checking the window despite the fact that the door was left open and dusting off imaginary fibres from her best dress.

Eventually night settled in, Eve barely noticed, continuing to stare at the empty door, regardless of the cold creeping in as the night steadily progressed. She didn't eat. She hadn't moved from her chair. She gave a small nod as a response to her mother's declaration that she was going to bed.

She stayed up another hour waiting, the last embers of the fire slowly dying and with them the last bit of hope she held onto. Silently she stood and quietly she closed the door. She slowly turned and sat back down in her chair and she sobbed.