"Of course, sorry sir." He seemed just like the man from her vision, but they were often unclear. He could be someone else. She just had to keep her eyes open.
He nodded in approval then marched off, to continue whatever he was doing.
Marian frowned he seemed almost familiar, like she had known him a long time ago. How odd. Marian snapped out of her thoughts as she noticed two very young maids pointing and giggling at her. "What is it ladies?" She smiled sweetly, she knew their type.
"Sorry miss, its just. The man you bumped into was Guy." The older girl with raven hair spoke up, the other looked very shy. "He's a nasty piece of work. We were surprised he didn't bite your head off." She giggled again. "Probably just because you are new here."
Marian frowned. Oh really? Did they mean Guy of Gisborne? This wasn't right. Nothing was.
"Miss, what happened to your arm?" The girl had noticed it, they both had and they were trying to hide the look of pity and disgust in their eyes. They couldn't conceal it very well.
"An accident." Marian had to admit that her arm looked pretty gruesome with her clawed useless hand. She still couldn't get used to it. Maybe she never would. But if one jumped off a cliff you couldn't expect to come away unscathed.
"I am actually here to find Madge, she wants me to work here."
The girls jaws dropped. "You must be the maid for the Sheriff."
"That's right."
"No offense miss, but I am not sure why she would pick you if you only have one working arm." She looked slightly nervous, she was probably afraid Marian would be offended. "Then again the Sheriff likes a pretty face, Madge knows him well." The girl was talking more to herself than Marian now.
"Well terribly sorry, I would love to chat but I must be going."
"Of course miss, the kitchens are through that hall there is a door at the end, go straight through."
"Thank you."
She heard them muttering and giggling as she left, she expected she would be the source of their gossip. They reminded her of school girls.
The kitchens were bustling and filled with cooks barking orders at their underlings. It was a special lunch they were preparing. The Sheriff had important guests. Marian had never thought about what a kitchen would be like in this time, and even if it all was her imagination she still thought it was amazing. Madge came bustling over from one of the benches covered in what looked like bread dough. She was a very wispy old lady, It was pretty impressive that she was still so active.
"Good you are here." She grabbed Marian's good arm. "I hope the Sheriff is willing to overlook your...injuries. I am sick and tired of looking for somebody."
Marian nodded.
"That man will be the death of me." It sounded like Madge was joking but Marian could hear the undertone, she really didn't like the Sheriff.
"I might as well take you up to see him now." She made for the door, then turned to Marian again. "Would that suit or would you like a little time to rest?"
"It would be fine to see him now... Thank you um..." Marian smiled awkwardly. "What should I call you?"
Madge laughed loudly. "No need for any formalities, Madge is just fine."
On the way to the sheriff's chambers, Marian thought about her situation again and again. Was she really about to try and be the personal maid for the sheriff of Nottingham? And if so was he as bad as the stories?
Her head hurt. She couldn't begin to understand the gravity of her situation.
"Hold your head up and smile." Madge touched her chin. "You will do brilliantly. I know you will."
Marian swallowed, trying to quench the sick fluttering of her stomach.
They walked in together.
The sheriff's chambers were large and well lit, a few paintings hung on the wall. One of them looked like it was a portrait of himself.
"What is it now?" He was sitting over a desk looking at a map, he didn't turn around as he addressed them.
"Sir, sorry to interrupt you, I have another lady who might suit for your maid." Madge was no longer the boss, that much was clear. She sounded more timid.
"Ooh, lovely." He stood up then marched up to Marian. "She will do nicely I think." His eyes were raking, judging her as if she was a piece of meat.
Marian kept her head high, but she didn't meet his eyes.
He clicked his tongue. "Very unfortunate about that arm." He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "But I am sure you will manage. And your face makes up for its loss."
Marian resisted the urge to shudder.
"You are dismissed, well done Madge this one looks like a keeper."
Madge didn't say anything until they were well away from his chambers.
"He isn't a very nice man, but I urge you to stay." She sounded tired. "The pay is worth it and you get good meals."
Marian smiled. "Don't worry, I can handle it. I won't be leaving."
Madge smiled with relief.
For the next few hours Madge explained to Marian how the castle was run. She would be serving the sheriff any meals he requested, he didn't eat a lot according to Madge. But he was very picky about how it was prepared. She would also prepare his baths in the early morning and evening. And if he called on her she would go up to see him. It sounded so simple, but Marian had the nagging feeling it would be anything but that. This was after all, the sheriff of Nottingham.
Her work would leave her with lots of free time during the day. In that time she would help with regular kitchen duties.
The sheriff retired for bed at eight. So Marian could go home after that.
She listened intently to Madge's endless trail of instructions. Madge was one to easily get side tracked. She would begin talking about his meals. But then go into a long explanation of how the soup was prepared. But Marian didn't really mind.
After a long and tiring day, Marian got her cloak and thanked Madge. The sun was just down. She smiled, it went down so late in summer. She took a huge gasp of air once she was outside. The kitchens had been so stuffy. It was so nice to stand in the shade of the keep and breath the nice clear air. She would have to go to the stables before she left, Madge said they would have a horse for her to ride home. It would be much safer that way.
She savored the walk to the stables, it was relaxing. People were going inside now and the grooms were putting the horses in their stalls. "I am looking for the head groom." She asked a man in his mid thirties, he was holding the reins to a speckled grey horse. "That would be me."
"Madge sent me to find a horse, I have just began working here. She said there would be one free."
The man looked at her blankly for a while. "Silly woman, how are you meant to ride with only one arm?"
Oh gods she hadn't thought of that. "Oh, I didn't even think." Stupid. Stupid.
"Well, I am afraid I can't lend you a horse." He gave her a sad look. "I can't risk losing any of them."
"Sorry I bothered you, I will just be leaving now."
He apologized profoundly. She could smell his silent judgement. Poor cripple. Sad broken girl.
She held her head up high and marched away from the stables. Stupid arm. She hated how limited it made her.
"Would you like me to walk with you?" It was the leather clad man she had walked into that morning. Guy.
"No thank you I will be fine." She walked straight past him.
He grabbed her arm. "If you think that you clearly don't know this place." He let go of her arm. "I don't mean to be rude. But its nearly dark and that is the worst time for a lady to be about on her own."
Marian nodded. "Fine you may walk with me sir."
He nodded, content.
They walked in silence as they walked away from the castle, it cast a huge dark shadow in the pale light of dusk.
"What are you doing here?" Guy's voice broke the silence.
"I am a maid for the sheriff." She was sure he had already figured that out.
"No I mean, why would you choose to be here?"
"Because it pays well and I need work."
He paused for a second. "That's fair enough. But this isn't a very nice place." He paused again, he was choosing his words carefully. "There is a man around here, he fancies himself above the law."
She took a deep breath, Robin. He was talking about Robin. She just knew.
"In the past he has sent spies into the castle, to see where the tax carriages are and other such things. We found them, they were hung."
What was he getting at?
"So I suggest, you be very careful whose side you are on." There was a anger in his voice, it was deep and not easy for him to hide. He hated Robin, that much was clear. But Marian wouldn't speak a word against him, she was in his debt. And she wouldn't judge him by what others said.
But he honestly thought she was a spy? Marian's blood boiled. "You have just met me. How dare you suggest such a thing?"
"I am just making sure."
"Well maybe try and get to know me a little before making assumptions?" She spat.
"I don't need to." Was that amusement in his voice?
"Oh you don't do you?" She growled. "And what may I ask has brought this on?"
"You are much more than you appear, I make it a custom to pay attention to new people."
She sniggered. "And do you make it a custom to threaten strangers?"
"Don't talk to me like that."
She laughed again. "I may talk to you however I want, I don't answer to you."
He hissed. "Well watch your back, because I will find out sooner or later."
She had watched her back for eight years. Eight years. "How dare you?" She stepped in front of him and slapped him across the face as hard as she could, he had the nerve to make her feel afraid again?
She hoped it stung. "Don't you ever say that to me."
He rubbed his face, not saying a word.
Marian's heart was pounding. Bad move Marian. Bad move. She took two steps away from him. He straightened up then looked at her. He actually looked more surprised than angry.
"I wouldn't do that again if I were you." Then he kept walking. They didn't say another word to each other for the rest of the walk home. When they got to the Elliot's house, he bid her goodnight then marched off into the night.
What happened to trying to lay low?
He wouldn't forget it. Oh lord, how stupid was she? She needed to learn to control her anger, otherwise she could really get in trouble some day.
As she went to sleep that night her mind was flooded with the events of the day, her dreams wouldn't be peaceful. But they hadn't been for a very long time. So that was nothing new.
But she tossed and turned throughout the night, she was haunted with visions of Guy and Robin. Something was terribly wrong. She could feel it.