-The Gallows-
Suddenly thrust into the world outside the castle walls, Elsie took a moment to adjust to a brightness she had not been exposed to in a few days. She blinked and squinted as she was escorted across the courtyard, just beyond the portcullis. Driven by curiosity, a small crowd of townspeople had drifted toward the castle gates to hear what news the sheriff had. The man himself appeared a moment later at Elsie's side. He gave those who lingered nearby a bright smile as the trumpets sounded for their attention.
"People of Nottingham, as you all very well know, if we are to restore order and peace to this land, those who choose to live their lives on the wrong side of the law must be held accountable for their actions. I have here the sister of Robin Hood. Not only is she associated with a known outlaw, but she was also caught stealing from her former residence in Locksley."
Whispers rippled through the crowd and a few exclamations of disbelief punctuated the quiet of the townspeople. Elsie's eyes widened with his false accusation. She started to protest this claim against her, but Gisborne put a swift stop to that with the back of his hand. With the taste of blood in her mouth, Elsie glared darkly while the sheriff continued his speech.
"As you know, we will not tolerate this behavior; a thief, whether noble or not, must be punished. The former Lady of Locksley must hang for her own offenses and the offenses of her family." With his voice filled with a mock sadness, the sheriff paused to let the idea of her hanging sink in. His beady little eyes darted among the faces in the crowd. "Unless--Robin Hood should turn himself in. If Hood surrenders to me, well then, I will let his darling little sister go. If he does not surrender, his sister will hang tomorrow at dawn. So, if someone could pass the word along to Robin Hood; we will see all your shining faces tomorrow morning for the hanging of a Locksley--should be fun either way."
With his announcement complete, the sheriff turned on his heel and waltzed back into the castle, giving orders to the guards along the way. "Put the girl back into the cage, string it up nice and high; let our pretty little bird have a taste of fresh air before she swings."
If looks could kill the sheriff would have been dead twice over. Elsie's blood boiled with rage as she allowed the guards to stuff her back into confinement, her arms still bound. Having been a close witness to the sheriff's form of government over the last couple of days, she was not at all surprised by his antics, using a false accusation of theft to justify her death and using her as leverage to lure her brother into captivity.
"My brother will come. Robin will save me," she said, more to herself than to anyone else.
"I'm not being funny, but I think that's the whole idea," pointed out a guard as he bolted the cage shut. Some of the others chuckled while the cage lifted from the ground.
Elsie rolled her eyes. They could laugh all they wanted, but she knew that Robin was close at hand. She could only hope that he had some idea to get them both as far away from the sheriff's little plan as possible.
It was difficult for her not to admire the cleverness of the sheriff's scheme as the cage rose higher and she looked out across the courtyard; the cage dangled just a few feet from where the scaffolds stood. Aside from the surrounding castle walls, it was the only view from her suspended prison.
Elsie clung to her one hope as the day dragged on, certain that Robin would come for her after nightfall when the shadows could aide their escape. As the sun sank below the horizon and the moon took its place high over head, illuminating the gallows with an eerie silver glow, her hope began to fade with the passing hours; there was nothing--not even a subtle indication--that suggested help was on its way. When only a glimmer of hope remained, Elsie curled herself into a ball and shut her eyes, trying to block out the vision of her death that was lingering nearby.