He grabbed her shoulders. "What! What? Impossible! How dare you accuse her of…." He was cut off.
"I'm almost certain my Lord. A child takes a good deal of time to grow. I believe she had a difficult time of it, which explains the blood. But Lady Margaret will know best." A pause. "You did send for her?" she asked.
He was stunned. He just stood starting at her.
"Did you see a small babe in the premises my Lord?" she asked matter of factly, as if it were an ordinary question.
He was still completely stunned. He started to pace the room. She was about to speak when he held up his hand to silence her and interrupted.
"Enough Madam! Slow down. This cannot be." He said. "She was the only one we saw there. Mordrid did a thorough sweep of the Castle and the grounds. It's impossible. There was no evidence an infant had been there."
"No." she disobeyed. "Not impossible. How long since you last laid eyes on her. Think." She jarred his memory.
"Last autumn." He realized it. His mouth flew agape.
"Enough time has passed my Lord. Another part of you is out there." She said.
"My child." He said softly, barely audible. "I need time." He said. He asked her to return to the Lady to do whatever it was she planned to do to restore her. He hoped James would bring his wife soon. Within a few hours of dismissing Mortianna, the Scribe appeared to announce the arrival of Officer Curran and his wife. The Midwife, lady Margaret. He showed her into his private chambers where his lady was resting. Now it was Lady Margaret's turn to examine her. Soon, she returned to the Sheriff's den, outside of the private chambers. He arose from his seat.
"My Lord Sheriff, I must agree with the witch. I'm very certain this Maid of Nottingham has borne a child. Not long ago. I suspect hours before you found her." The stout woman said calmly, with a very soothing tone to her voice.
He looked at her. "How are you so convinced? We found her alone. There was no child with her. How do you know there had been one in the first place?" he challenged her.
She didn't hesitate a response. "Your lady has milk to nurse an infant. That only appears when a maiden has borne a child." She said.
He sighed. "You have more to tell me." He said gravely.
"Yes. I believe the afterbirth came too soon, and that is how she started her pains. It brings the labour on suddenly though. This caused her to bleed more than an average maiden would. She lost a lot of blood. Slipped into a deep sleep, and now she needs rest and plenty of fluids. However I fear she also needs the help of a physician. She is sick with fever, my Lord. I fear she may need to be bled."
"You are not familiar with the procedure?" he asked her pointedly.
"Well, I did work with your own personal physician last winter. I consulted him about my charge. She too had fever. I did watch the technique as he bled her." She replied.
"Do it." He said to her. "I'd prefer to minimize contact with too many strangers. There is something you see. I cannot put my finger on it." He paused. "You do not think a poison could do this?" he asked.
"Not by itself my Lord. I do think your theory holds merit. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if she was poisoned some time after she delivered the child."
"I knew it." He whispered. "When she did wake, she was a wild animal! She did not know me!"
"Another reason she should be bled." She replied.
"You are sure?" he asked again.
"That is my recommendation, yes."
"What do you recommend in the interim while you gather the necessary supplies?"
"Continue what you've already been doing, my Lord. Everything you've done so far is the reason she's still alive." She said with a smile. She walked over to him. He looked so different suddenly. Softer. Open. Approachable. She extended her hand and lightly touched his arm.
"It will be alright, my Lord. I'm staying."
He was so overwhelmed with gratitude he could not verbalize a response. He nodded and sat down. A child. He knew immediately why his lady had been sacrificed. Any day now, it will come. The scroll. The demands.
He stayed by her side that night. Sitting on the bed with her. In and out of sleep. He'd wake with a start from an ache in his neck, or a feeling of urgency. A need to start back on the journey. To rescue his child.
Lady Margaret returned with several implements to initiate the procedure. She silently commenced her work, and carefully bled Rhiannon into a basin. The procedure took an hour, then the Sheriff dismissed her, stating he'd stay with his Lady to continue observation. She relented. He finally drifted off to sleep. He didn't know it, but during the night in one of his sleep phases, his Lady lightly stroked his arm.
Three days later he was finishing a Council meeting when it came. He was just pouring some water in a silver goblet when the Scribe approached him.
"My Lord Sheriff…there is boy messenger come to see you. He brings a scroll. He insists he must see you in person."
The Sheriff knew right away.
"Bring him to me."
The Scribe stepped out and moments later returned with the lad who looked to be around twelve years. He advanced closer when the Sheriff beckoned for him to approach.
"You have a message for me." The Sheriff spoke.
"Yes, sir. My master asked me to to place this scroll directly into the hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Are you he, sir?"
"I am." The Sheriff replied as he held out a palm for the scroll and continued. "Might you tell me about your master, boy? Describe him to me."
"He's very tall. Like you sir. But bigger. That is all I know because I couldn't see him, sir." The lad replied.
"Couldn't see him?" the Sheriff repeated, puzzled.
"No sir. He was wearing a hood of some sort over his head. His face was hidden." The boy shuddered.
"Was he alone?" the Sheriff asked pointedly.
"Come to think of it….no. He had a little baby with him, but no wife. Rather odd I thought, sir!" the lad exclaimed.
The Sheriff felt the blood drain from his face.
"One more thing, boy." The Sheriff said to the lad. "Did you get a look at the infant? Was it well? A boy or a girl?" He asked. It didn't really matter since the child's life was at stake - the answer to the second question, but he was still curious.
"Yes. I did get a look, sir." The boy replied. "But I couldn't tell you what it was. It was wrapped in a white blanket. The baby had soft dark curls, green eyes, and chubby cheeks. Nice little babe. Twas a pity his father isn't so."
"It is mine." He whispered, barely audible to himself.
"Excuse me, sir?" the boy asked.
"That is fine, boy. That will be all." He said as took the scroll from him. Then he dismissed him.
He sat at a table and broke the wax seal, carefully opening the document. He began to read…
"My good Sheriff of Nottingham.
Debauched, and sought by maids.
You never deny yourself pleasure.
I have the child of your whore.
You think you can play me?
You'll have to compensate me first.
My Good Sheriff……
And by and by anon
Thine eyes shall see their fill
Of thine own face in the eyes of your cursed infant.
Whence you meet the demands as follows:
Meet me on the hill by the Castle where your maid
Was held prisoner.
Do this or it's off. Your bastard will die.
Come then, in a fortnight hence.
As the moon rises.
Bring me one thousand gold pieces.
Come alone.
These demands are non negotiable.
Do this or your failure to respect my requests will result in
both of their deaths.
Your bastard and your whore.
Trust we understand each other.
The fallen Knight."
The Sheriff was enraged. If he needed anything to fire his enthusiasm, he just got it. He presumes to know me. That will be his grave misfortune, the Sheriff thought.
Another knock. Will the intrusions never end?
"Yes."
The Scribe appeared again in the doorway.
"The witch has asked to see you, Sire."
"Very well." He waved a dismissal to the short old man. Mortianna then entered and paused in the doorway.
"I have an update on your lady." She said.
He got up and walked toward her. "What is it?" he asked.
"She seems to be improving. She's out of danger, and I think she may wake again soon."
The Sheriff raised his eyebrow and said "Again? You speak as if she's already awakened?"
"She did my Lord. Only for a few moments. You were in a town Council meeting. Everything seems to be well…" she continued "Save for one exception." She let the thought linger pregnant in the air.
"What is it?" he asked, curious.
"She has no recollection of a baby."
"And why do you suppose that is?" he asked the witch. The entire matter was getting to be so dauntingly full of questions. And what did his Lady mean by those words: "It's too late."?
"That remains a mystery. For whatever reason, she has lost her memory of it completely. Strangely, she does not have any memory of the child at all. In any way, shape, or form." She said shaking her head in awe.
