The Sheriff cried out, enraged. He threw the rock, and kicked the scarecrow until it was nothing but a mass of hay and rags at his feet.
"You think you'll wear me out you murderous insect?!" He yelled into the night. "You shall not have her! You will not get to her before I. I swear it – on my mother's grave!"
He put the scroll in his pocket, mounted the horse than kicked it into a gallop. He needed to get back to Nottingham. Oh…this man was worse than Locksley ever was! At least then he didn't have to travel all over England and back again before he had the pleasure of ending that tedious chapter. He was exhausted but he had to get back there fast. The Fallen Knight must have started on his way there days ago! The child! He needed to find Guy and his men first, to search for the child. This matter was advancing rapidly beyond his realm. He would ask Guy to speak to the Sheriff of this county for assistance. They could look for the child, and he could get back to Lady Rhiannon. In the meantime, he would try to find a page to get a message to her while he looked for Guy. When this is over, he thought, when I finally get my hands on him…..I'm going to drag his death out as long as my strength will allow it!
He was so fatigued it was difficult at times to stay focused. Despite that he pressed onwards, flying through the night under a starry sky, the horse's mane and tail dancing in the pale moonlight.
After a few hours, he was approaching a small group of men in the distance advancing toward him on horses. As he drew closer to them he smiled. He was relieved. He dismounted and started towards them.
"Cousin! You've returned!" Guy shouted as he recognized him, dismounting his horse and walking towards him.
The Sheriff shook his hand. "Guy."
"How is she, cousin? Your lady?"
"She's doing better, thanks for asking."
"And mine? How is my lady, cousin?"
"Meridwyn is well, cousin. She and Lady Rhiannon have become friends!" he smiled.
"How convenient for us!"
"Yes, especially since my lady will be a member of our family. Whenever I can get back to her, which needs to be soon."
"You've asked her to marry you?" Guy asked.
"Yes. Now, I'll tell you about it sometime. But, for now, cousin I need your help. I need to get back. She's in danger. Again." He stopped to get his breath and a drink of water from his canteen.
"I don't understand."
"You never found the insect I take it?"
"We searched everywhere, cousin. We left that castle after a few days, broke into groups to continue the search. He's remained elusive. Of course, if we knew what we were looking for. All we know is a suspicious man. Could be anyone."
"Well not anymore." The Sheriff huffed.
"What do you mean?"
"He's gone. They both are!" He said as he kicked a nearby tree, then punched it causing his knuckles to begin to bleed.
"Cousin! Restrain yourself. What are you saying? There's two of them now?" He asked.
"Long story cousin. My Lady it turns out, gave birth to a child while held prisoner by that bastard. I have a child, cousin. That's why he kept her alive! I received his ransom demands a fortnight ago!"
Guy was visibly astonished. So was Duke Farnsworth and the other six men.
The Sheriff pulled the scroll from his pocket and handed it to him.
"A message, cousin. From him. Read."
Guy paused to look at the document. He looked up at the Sheriff.
"He must know Nottingham! Why does he keep going back there, George!" Guy exclaimed.
"I swear I know this man, Guy. I do not know how, but I have a strong hunch about it. It sends a chill down my spine I'll tell you that!" he spat as he turned on his heel to head back towards his horse.
"Wait! Put it together, cousin. What did he say in the other document? And he refers to Catherine and Hecate! That's going back a few years. He knew them! Yes, I'd wager he knew them before he killed them! How long ago was that?" Guy pondered.
"I don't know." The Sheriff muttered. "It's been a few years. They must have been the first victims!"
"And what did he mean – his face? Who was his brother? His lover for that matter? Now he gives us some clues!"
"I don't know. I don't have time to solve the mystery, Guy! I have to get back to my lady. She's in danger. He's headed there for her now!"
"You want me and the rest to stay and search for the infant?" Guy asked him.
The Sheriff returned his gaze. He realized Guy had been away from home for quite some time. Much longer than he. It must be difficult to be gone so long from the woman you love.
"No. I want you to return with me. If Meridwyn is with Rhiannon, she's in danger too." He looked to Duke Farnsworth and the other six men gathered around them.
"We shall remain here to seek out the child, my Lord Sheriff. Tell me what you know...an approximate age of the child would be useful."
The Sheriff went to him to consult with Duke Farnsworth and together they quickly came up with a plan. Then, the Sheriff and his cousin started on their way.
"We must rest a time, cousin, before you venture further. No doubt you've not stopped long enough for adequate rest since you left Nottingham." Guy suggested tentatively.
"I'll rest when I'm holding her in my arms, that bastard dead!"
"She will be your wife?" His cousin was clever to change the topic of discussion. The Sheriff was happy to oblige.
"Yes. She accepted my proposal." The Sheriff smiled. He looked at Guy then, riding alongside him. "Have you asked Meridwyn? You never did tell me about it."
Guy coughed. "No."
"What's that you say?"
"Not yet I haven't. I plan to however. Soon. Very soon. Do you think she'll have me?"
"She gave up me for you!" the Sheriff teased. "She adores you. Of course she will."
As they continued to ride over treacherous terrain and covering a good deal of distance, Guy observed that the Sheriff was fading. But he knew his cousin. No one could ever coax the Sheriff into anything. It had to be his call when he decided to yield to his fatigue. So, instead, he started conversation again when the ground being covered demanded a slower pace. He pulled his horse beside him once their pathway widened.
"I'm pleased to hear that Lady Rhiannon is much improved, cousin."
"Yes. You've no idea how it pleased me to see her awakened from that interminable slumber!" The Sheriff agreed.
"She is fine now though? No long term ill effects?"
"She was weakened when I left." He paused "Well, not too weakened." He winked. "However, it will be a little while before she will be able to endure anything strenuous. I've left strict instructions for all assigned to her care. Lady Margaret and Mortianna are to see to it that she is getting adequate rest."
"Indeed, cousin." Guy added: "I'm also pleased to know that your lady and mine are getting on rather well!"
"Yes. I'm glad of it too. Since neither you nor I have other family, at least we don't have to concern ourselves with that. It would be unfortunate if they disliked each other."
As they continued on, the Sheriff found it difficult at times to focus, but he kept this to himself. He loathed it whenever he felt weakened.
"Lady Rhiannon must be beside herself with worry for your infant." Guy mused.
"Alas, cousin – she does not remember the child. I'm waiting for the right time to mention it."
"What?!"
"You heard me."
"That seems impossible! How can she…." He was cut off.
"It's not! It's…." his words trailed off as he nodded off briefly.
"Cousin! Watch out!" Guy called as the Sheriff's horse was lead astray, leading him too close between some trees.
"Oh!...Yes. Guy, perhaps you were right. Maybe I should rest a time, just briefly. For a moment." He said as he steered the horse in the right direction.
"There." Guy pointed "Ahead, cousin. There's a spot we can set up our tents for the night."
They slowed their horses, then found some trees nearby to secure them.
"Why must we require sleep, cousin? Sometimes I am annoyed to be so tired. There's much to be done, too much ground left to cover!" The Sheriff remarked as they completed the tasks of establishing camp.
"We'll make it, cousin." Guy reassured. "The guards are there to protect her. The Scribe is looking out for her. Margaret and Mortianna are caring for her. She is safe, cousin."
Even though he was standing upright, his head nodded again. He jerked it upwards and looked at Guy.
"Yes." He said as he held open the flap to his tent. "She's safe. Rhiannon is safe. Meridwyn is safe as well."
"Everything's fine, cousin. We shall continue on in the morning."
"Yes." The Sheriff repeated again, absently as he entered the tent. "Safe."
There is was again. That creaking noise! Tonight, she was finding it difficult to sleep. Meridwyn tossed and turned in her bed. Clutching an overstuffed silk covered pillow to her, she held onto it fast, wishing it to be Guy. For some reason this night she was unsettled. She kept hearing strange sounds in the castle. Sounds she'd never heard before. In the stillness of the dead of night, she also thought she was occasionally seeing shadows moving. And then, the odd echoes, and whooshing sounds. She'd never paid attention to any of this before. She'd never noticed.
But now, her senses were heightened. Maybe because it had been several weeks since she'd been in the protective company of her lover. Maybe the conversation she'd overheard between Lady Margaret and Mortianna regarding Rhiannon. Maybe it was the conversation she had with Rhiannon explaining details of her near capture by the murderous outlaw her lover and the Sheriff were at this moment seeking to capture. And her sense of late, of the feeling of being watched. She had a great deal on her mind, thoughts racing and oft times scattered. Sometimes now, not making sense. Alone in the dark, for some reason for one of the first times in her life, she was frightened. In the company of her thoughts she was starting to understand Rhiannon. Now she regretted her hasty response when her friend made what she regarded an elaborate plan suggestion for a lengthy journey. Now, she wasn't so sure that Rhiannon wasn't on to something? She went back to the strange perception she'd had for some time, a feeling of being watched. Some sense of malevolence crouching upon her.
She sat up in her bed abruptly, tightly holding her silken pillow to her chest. "Who's to say he won't find his way back here?" she muttered softly. "Before Guy and the Sheriff reach him! This is ludicrous!" she shuddered.
She decided that sitting around Nottingham Castle, idly chatting about silly things wouldn't do. No doubt, eventually being coaxed into loathsome needlepoint and other sewing activities would be the next plan by the elder ladies for she and Rhiannon. The longer their lovers stayed away, surely they'd go mad. Well, she would not endure it. She knew that Rhiannon wouldn't endure it either. No. Rhiannon had a point. They needed to leave this place, and search for their men. Then, they could finally be at ease. She would speak to Lady Rhiannon about it the next day. The sooner they planned an escape, the better.
That morning, Mortianna entered the Sheriff's private chambers to offer the Lady Rhiannon her special blend tea to relax her, just as she had previously discussed with Lady Margaret, the Midwife.
"Good morning, my Lady." Mortianna said.
Rhiannon was already dressed for the day and fashioning her hair with decorative pins. "Yes, Mortianna. Good Day. I wasn't expecting to see you." Rhiannon remarked.
"I've brought you a cup of tea, my dear. I thought perhaps you may find it soothing." Mortianna said.
"Thank you." She replied as she took the cup and began to sip the warm liquid.
"You will rest a bit today, my Lady?" Mortianna pryed.
"Yes, of course. I do enjoy a stroll in the garden however."
"As long as you keep it brief. Rest is good for restoring the body back to health. You shall need it, when he returns." She hinted.
"Yes." Rhiannon agreed.
Mortianna left and Rhiannon sat near the window drinking her tea. She was beginning to relax a little. More settled than she'd been in days. Her eyes were drawn to the view from the window. It was facing in a northward direction. Close enough in direction that she pictured her dark prince in the distance. She was finding the wait difficult. Especially when left to measure the time alone. She hoped that he was safe.
She sipped the tea, and was reminded of the times she waited in her own home, years ago, for her brothers to return to her. Alas, they never did. She shuddered. She tried to think of other things. She didn't want to imagine the worst possible scenario. She couldn't endure such loss. Her father and brothers loss was difficult enough to manage. Not the loss of…. "No. Stop it at once!" she said aloud.
She stood and felt slightly lightheaded, then chose to sit on the bed. Within moments she lay back on top of it and settled on the pillows pulling a coverlet up to her waist. Perhaps just a little rest, she thought…..
