The Sheriff and Guy flew through the narrow paths of the forest on their spirited horses. Each of them a dark prince upon a black steed. Both men dressed in garbs of black leather studded in silver. The shiny metal that bedecked their coats caught the light and danced as they moved, what little light there was this misty rainy day. Both with the same purpose. They moved swiftly as they sought signs of their ladies whereabouts. It seemed to them they'd been traveling in circles the last few hours. The Sheriff slowed his horse. Guy followed his lead.
"We've been looking for hours, cousin." Guy finally spoke.
"We can't be far off the mark. They couldn't have gone too far from where we found the horses, and Lady Meridwyn's chain. He couldn't have gotten too far during that storm last night." The Sheriff said.
Guy looked around and spotted something in the distance. "What's that up ahead, sire?" Guy pointed to it.
The Sheriff paused to look where Guy was indicating. It looked like something in the distance behind some trees. He nodded to Guy and together they ventured to discover what it was they were seeing.
Fifteen minutes later they were near to a cabin. It appeared very dark inside from the windows in the front, but there was a horse secured to a tree nearby with a wagon behind it. The Sheriff dismounted and handed Guy the reins.
"Wait here." He instructed. "If he's in there, I don't want him to hear us."
The Sheriff walked toward the horse and surveyed the wagon. He peered inside. There was a woman's cape left in it. Black velvet with black satin lining. He'd seen it before. He picked it up and took it with him to show Guy.
"My Lady's cape." The Sheriff commented as he showed it to Guy. "They're definitely in there." He pointed to the cabin.
"What now? You have a plan?" Guy asked as they walked toward the cabin. Guy had already secured their horses close by where they wouldn't be spotted so easily.
"Oh, trust me. I'm thinking." The Sheriff began. As they passed the wagon he lay the cape there again. He would give it to her, after he killed him. "I don't know what excites me more? Seeing my Lady again. Or slowly killing that bastard." He Spat.
_________________________________________________________
He was drunk and beginning to lose what little amount of remaining sanity he had left in him. The Sheriff no doubt would be pursuing him. What was he thinking wasting time coming to this cabin with Meridwyn and that other little wench? The fiery beauty who got away was with him at last. But he'd have to cut his amusement time short for now, because he knew that the Sheriff was likely spending more time riding than wasting his time napping. Ah, he knew the Sheriff well enough to know one thing about him. He hated the Sheriff with every cell in his body, but he knew the Sheriff was intelligent. The Good Sheriff would know straight away when he read the Fallen Knight's last scroll that he'd better head back to Nottingham – fast.
Which worked fine - when he penned the scroll. By all calculations that was going to work perfectly in his favour. How was he to know those two stupid women would be daft enough to journey on horses and practically land straight in his lap? At the time he was giddy with excitement. Now he realized this unexpected gift could be his ruin. He'd better be careful and not let his guard down. He mustn't allow himself to become distracted.
Still, the beauty of it. He couldn't wait to throw this one in the Sheriff's face. How his sweet lovely lady and his cousin's lover practically rode their horses straight to him! He could just picture the scene in his mind. What he would tell the Sheriff – when they finally came face to face:
"Oh, I'm sorry Sheriff. Why, I didn't intend to kill your lady until next week when I arrived at your castle. But a funny thing happened. She got on a horse and rode all this way directly into my path! - Whoops."
The Fallen Knight broke out into maniacal laughter. He was so drunk that he couldn't control the outburst of cackling and self congratulation. Rhiannon could hear him in the cold darkened room she was in. The sound of him was literally starting to make her feel sick.
She looked over at Meridwyn. Meridwyn lay in the same position as several hours earlier. Her breathing was regular, but her colour was pallid. Rhiannon had quietly looked around the room earlier, trying to find blankets or linens. She knew she'd have to remain on guard, and find a place to hide it if she heard the madman coming. But she'd do it. For Meridwyn. Alas, there were none to be found. The only furniture in the room was the chair she sat upon. Thus, there were no luxuries available beyond that. Not without leaving the room and risking running into him. Unprepared. No. She was going to stick with her plan.
Ever since she'd broken free of the bindings, she'd been quietly going over to check on Meridwyn and try to wake her. Meridwyn had some cuts and contusions, but she wouldn't be able to tell if anything was broken until she woke up. So far she'd been unsuccessful at waking her. Rhiannon wanted to approach her now, but she had a strong feeling he'd be coming back soon. It certainly didn't sound like he was going to fall asleep.
"Meridwyn." She called. "Please wake up." She still wondered how it was he knew Meridwyn's name. Every time she thought she was getting close to the answer, it eluded her.
She wondered if the Sheriff knew how close this man was to Nottingham. Was the Sheriff still stationed several miles north of here looking for the madman? Or was he in fact headed in the right direction? The one where he would by chance find them in time? Why was she relying on that fantasy? Her lover was clever, but how would he even know? She was going to have to rely on her own wit to get her out of this situation.
There they were again. His footsteps were approaching. Though, this time they were heavy, sometimes shuffling. Oh, splendid. Now I must deal with a drunk, vile madman, she thought.
He entered in the room. She didn't bother to acknowledge him. She maintained her position on the chair, with her hands behind her as they were the last time he was here. Except the last time, they were tied together.
"Very good." He said as he came closer to them. He looked upon Rhiannon "You're not speaking out of turn for once. That's a good little girl. We'll need to be on our way soon, and I'm going to need you to shut up." He said to Rhiannon.
He walked over to Meridwyn and knelt beside her. "I wish we could remain here, but we must be on our way. And I don't want any interruptions for what I've got in store for you."
Why was he so familiar with Meridwyn? Rhiannon thought. However did he know her? It was haunting her.
"Three years I've waited….and now you're here." He said to Meridwyn.
Meridwyn's voice suddenly echoed in Rhiannon's mind in flashes of memory: "But, strangely, I have not seen him in years. Oh my, how long now? Three I think. Yes, three years!" Rhiannon suddenly remembered their conversation in the gardens, the day that Meridwyn was attempting to calm Rhiannon when she was cross with Lady Margaret. Somehow, Meridwyn ending up telling her of a former lover. What was his name?
The madman was lightly stroking Meridwyn's hair. Rhiannon had another flash: "He was feisty, yet tender at the same time." Meridwyn's voice echoed again in her mind. Rhiannon knew it. This man had to be him. It was beginning to make sense! She didn't know why it was so important to her to remember it, but she wished she could recall the name Meridwyn gave. She was angry with herself. Who cares what his name is?
"He just disappeared, all of a sudden….just like that!" Rhiannon remembered Meridwyn startling her when she snapped her fingers then.
"You're so quiet over there, it's starting to get on my blessed nerves!" the madman suddenly spoke, interrupting her thoughts. He got up and walked toward her. She rubbed her palms together nervously behind her back. He stopped a few feet in front of her.
"What do you think you're doing?" he hissed. "You've never been at a loss for words before." He came closer and bent down to meet her face. "I can practically see the wheels turning in your brain, wench. You're trying to figure your way out of this. But it's not going to work. So don't even try!" he admonished.
Rhiannon looked over at Meridwyn. She was moving slightly! Oh, why now? Oh God Meridwyn, don't awake now! Suddenly she felt his rough leather glove upon her chin – "Are you even listening to me?!" he demanded as he forced her to look at him.
"Yes, I heard you." Rhiannon replied weakly as she looked at him. Upon that hidden face in the hood. Then, another flash of memory: "I really thought he loved me you know. I hope nothing happened to him." – "Who?" Rhiannon thought as she heard her own voice ask Meridwyn that day. Who? And there it was: "Will. Will Scarlett." She heard Meridwyn say in her memories. And then it kept playing over and over in her mind, relentlessly until –
"I heard you, Will Scarlett." Her own voice called out to him. Driven by an unknown force inside of her, beyond her control.
"What did you say to me?" He said slowly, enraged.
"I said: I heard you, Will Scarlett." Rhiannon replied evenly. Unmoving. Come closer, she willed him. Just a little closer. You sick, evil, loathsome creature.
______________________________________________________________________
"I can't see anything through the windows, sire." Guy remarked. "Maybe he's holding them somewhere else?"
"No. There's no where else around here. Rhiannon and Meridwyn must be somewhere in that cabin." The Sheriff said. "We have to find a way in without being detected. I'd like to take him by surprise. Unnecessary, I know. But damn – it will feel good." He gave a satisfied grin.
"If we could figure out where in the cabin he is right now?" Guy said.
The Sheriff walked up closer to the cabin. Guy followed him. He was scanning the area around it. "Let's cover the perimeter of the cabin. We're looking for entrances and any signs of their location within." The Sheriff directed.
The Sheriff walked around the north side of it to get to the back. He'd found two entrances so far. One at the front, and another at the back of the cabin. There was a window on the far side of the back door. He crouched low near to it. He thought he could hear voices. Guy came from around the other side to meet him.
"I think they're in there." The Sheriff said.
"I've only found two entranceways." Guy offered.
"Yes, maybe we should enter through the front." The Sheriff suggested.
The Fallen Knight was incredulous. "And just how did you arrive at that conclusion?" he demanded of Rhiannon.
"It doesn't matter. I know who you are." Rhiannon announced.
"Nobody knew." He said evenly.
"Well, she remembered you." Rhiannon said, pointing over to Meridwyn.
He was stunned. The little wench was lying. He bent down and got very close to her and said "You're doing it again. You'd best keep quiet. What? Do you think your Sheriff is going to save you?" He laughed.
She didn't respond.
"Did I ever tell you about the Sheriff?" the madman said. "Hmm, where to begin?" he straightened up and started to pace in front of her. "First he killed my father. Accused him of being a devil worshipper, which he was not. I won't even begin to describe what he did to my father's servant, Duncan. Let's just say – he took Duncan's sight. I had one brother. The Sheriff killed him too. First he threatened to cut my brother's heart out with a spoon, but alas, he used the sword instead."
"Stop!" Rhiannon cried, squeezing her eyes closed, as if it would block out the sound of his voice.
"You will listen!" he hissed as he leaned in to her. Then he went back to pacing. "Now, my brother did try to help when the fire happened. You see, the Sheriff asked his hedgeman that day to string me up with the others. But, there was no room, no nooses left. So I was tied to a barrel, that unbeknownst to the Sheriff was filled with an explosive black powder." He paused and looked at her. "Pretty ingenious of my brother's companion to come up with – it was brilliant! The plan was to shoot fiery arrows at the barrels which we had stationed throughout the courtyard. However, Azeem didn't see me there – crouched low to that one, and well – POOF!"
"Why are you telling me this?" Rhiannon asked. She didn't want to hear this.
"Silence! You will listen. Obviously nobody ever told you about the real Sheriff of Nottingham." He grabbed his flask of wine out of his pocket and took a swig. "So now, you see, my face was on fire. Imagine how that would feel!" he shouted. Then he went and stood near Meridwyn.
"You see now? He took everything, wench. Everything from me! My father. My brother – well, that was after he took my face. And he pretty well drove Meridwyn from me then too."
"She told me you disappeared." Rhiannon said.
"Did I ask for your input?" he shouted. He took another generous swig from his flask. "Okay. That's enough small talk. But there's your history lesson for you. Now you know more - about your darling Sheriff of Nottingham."
She had to get out of here, but what about Meridwyn? She'd better think fast how she was going to execute her plan. He was behaving erratically. Unpredictable. He glanced down at Meridwyn, then decided he'd get to her later. He walked closer to Rhiannon. She felt her heartbeat begin to race, and her palms go damp. She worried she wouldn't be able to hold onto it much longer. She tried to swallow but her mouth was too dry.
His gloved hand was upon her shoulder, then lifting her chin up. "I never did finish with you…." He taunted.
He moved in closer then, and ran his hand over her décolleté. Rhiannon took a deep breath. When he brought his hooded face in close to hers and inched it around to her neck she brought her right hand around swiftly, and thrust the Sheriff's dagger into his left flank, before pulling it out of him.
"AAAAH!!" He yelled out and staggered backwards. "You little whore!" he shouted. He felt hot seering pain. He grabbed the sanguinous wound and held it, trying to shuffle toward her. Rhiannon bolted from the chair, and headed for the doorway ahead. She looked back. The madman was slumping to the chair. Good. She was going to run out of the front door to get her cape out of the wagon. She could use it as a blanket for Meridwyn and get her out of there. She hoped the wagon was close by. Because once they arrived here she was poisoned. He could have easily moved the horse and cart. She ran, not knowing the loathsome creature was following her.
Meridwyn was stirring on the floor. She could hear a lot of noise, but didn't know where she was, or how to make her eyes focus.
The Sheriff and Guy heard the commotion inside. Their plans had just changed and they broke through the back door. They were immediately in a large dark room with one lone chair and a woodstove within. Meridwyn was on the floor, but there was no sign of Rhiannon or the outlaw they were after.
Guy ran over to Meridwyn. She was trying to speak but couldn't make the words form. He kissed her forehead, and took off his cloak. Then he placed it over her to warm her. He turned to the Sheriff.
"I'll search the other rooms, cousin."
"Yes, do it. Then we're going to have to make haste." The Sheriff instructed. He couldn't leave Meridwyn yet, not until Guy returned, so he walked about the room investigating the scene with his arms folded.
Rhiannon found her cape draped over the wagon behind the madman's horse. She peered over the wagon, she could see the man had just gotten out of the front door. He was too busy holding his wound and maintaining his footing to notice her. She lay low to the ground, and ran through the trees and brush around the cabin toward the back.
Meridwyn started to moan. The Sheriff turned to look at her. She opened her eyes. He walked over to her and knelt beside her.
"Lady Meridwyn, you're safe now." He reassured. "It will be alright." Then, just as he was about to tell her that Guy would be right back, she looked at him and reached up to his face.
"Oh, it's you!" she smiled. Then she arose as she pulled the Sheriff down towards her, and surprised him with a kiss.
Rhiannon came through the back door. She stood there looking at the scene before her. Frozen. Stunned.
The Sheriff broke free. Meridwyn fell back to the floor slipping back into unconsciousness. He turned toward the door, he'd heard a noise. His eyes lit up.
"My Lady." He smiled at Rhiannon, who was staring at him.
"NO!" she said softly, shaking her head. Then she bolted out of the door and ran. She headed for the front of the cabin again, quickly putting on her cape. She hoped the madman was no where near his horse, because she was going to need it.
"Rhiannon!" The Sheriff called after her. He'd suddenly forgotten his duty to stay with Meridwyn. Damn the woman! Was she trying to get herself killed? He ran through the door and went around the cabin.
Rhiannon was trying to unhitch the wagon from the horse about 30 yards ahead. He had to go up a slight incline to get to her, but the ground was wet and difficult to get a sure footing. Finally he made it to the front of the cabin.
"My Lady! Wait!" he called to her.
She was already upon the horse. She looked at him briefly from a distance, then she sent the horse into a gallop.
"Damn!" he shouted in frustration.
