Quickly, he scanned the area for his horse. He found it several feet away, along with Guy's horse secured to some trees. Instinct was overriding his need to take care of the Fallen Knight. He had to get to her!
"Cousin! Watch Out!" Guy called from the front of the cabin. The Sheriff turned – the Fallen Knight was twenty or so feet away preparing to shoot an arrow at him. It looked like he was bleeding from his left side. Did Guy do that?
The Fallen Knight started to run. The Sheriff could see the man wasn't going to get very far, but he called out to Guy: "After him!"
Guy was already on the move. He ran up to the Fallen Knight and tackled him. The Fallen Knight fell to the ground. The Sheriff ran ahead to confront the insect. He had plenty to say to him. Finally he was standing over him. He reached down and pulled the hood off his face.
His face was hideously scarred. It had been badly burned. There was something about him. The Sheriff thought he recognized something in him. What was it? His eyes. Those high cheekbones. His hair. He'd been up close and personal to it once before. Yes. Three years ago. When the man was the Sheriff's prisoner! Right after the siege in Sherwood Forest. So, he said the same thing he said to him days later in the courtyard:
"Oh. It's you again. The turncoat." He spat
"My Lord. Or should I say – my Good Sheriff of Nottingham?"
"Yes. Sure. Debauched and sought by maids, no less." The Sheriff rolled his eyes. "Spare me your idiotic diatribe." He hissed as he placed his boot on the man's abdomen. "So what made you up the stakes from thievery to murder?" He inquired with his left eyebrow up in the air.
"You should know." The Fallen Knight replied in a gravelly voice.
"No. I'm sure I don't."
"Take a look at my face, you bastard!" What did he have to lose now? The Fallen Knight could care less.
"And what the hell does that have to do with it?" The Sheriff demanded.
"It burned – because of you."
"Enough!" He yelled.
"He's drunk." Guy remarked, disgusted.
"No doubt, cousin." He agreed. "Must've happened before you stabbed him. But, thanks for leaving a piece of him for me!"
"I didn't do that to him, cousin." Guy replied shaking his head.
"What?" He looked from Guy, then down upon the face of the Fallen Knight. "Oh God. Don't tell me you did that to yourself? Why am I not surprised? You pathetic… weak…" he was cut off.
"You don't give her any credit do you?" The Fallen Knight interrupted suddenly.
"What?" the Sheriff asked.
"Your lady. Though, I prefer to call her your whore…"
The Sheriff responded by pressing his boot firmly into him, gradually increasing the pressure. Oblivious to the increase in sanguine exudate it caused.
"She did this!" the man cried out in pain. "Your lady stabbed me!"
The Sheriff lifted his boot from him.
"Tie him up." He instructed Guy. He'd had it with him. He was wasting his time here. He needed to start after Rhiannon.
"But, cousin?" Guy asked.
"Do it!" the Sheriff barked in frustration.
"You disappoint me, my good Sheriff." The Fallen Knight taunted, as the blood continued oozing from his knife wound.
"Cover that wound of his too." The Sheriff directed Guy.
"What? Cousin? You want me to help him now?!" Guy was incredulous.
The Sheriff walked over to Guy and took him aside. "You're not getting it, cousin." He lowered his voice. "This little insect might be the only one who knows where the child is!"
Guy nodded and proceeded with the Sheriff's directives. The Sheriff started walking toward his horse.
"Cousin?" Guy called.
"Throw him in that wagon." The Sheriff called back. "If I'm not back here by dusk, start on your way to Nottingham and bring him with you. Take him to the dungeon. Instruct the guards to restrain him, but not to touch him in the meantime. He's mine!"
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She had traveled quite a distance, not really certain which direction. She was busily focusing on where she was heading. Trying to suppress the memory. That visual jolt to reality, which was presented to her, when she went in through the back door of the cabin. She didn't know how her lover got there. When she was outside of the cabin retrieving her cape from the wagon, she didn't see his horse anywhere in the area. So, the last thing she expected to witness when she went through the door for her friend, was to see him there. That was surprising enough. But, to catch him kissing Meridwyn? And then, his audacity at looking at her smiling and saying "My Lady.." as if he'd done nothing wrong. What? Did he think Meridwyn was she in the dark? Obviously not, because after kissing Meridwyn, he looked to her and acknowledged her. Am I just one of many? She thought. What was he really doing to occupy his time all those months I was gone? What am I to believe?
Her mind was racing with scattered thoughts. The scenery was flying by her, racing along with the images that were flashing in her mind, almost blending into one. She was growing very tired. She didn't know if the madman managed an escape. Maybe he was following? After all, her Sheriff was too busy comforting Meridwyn. She never saw anyone else with the Sheriff. Maybe this Gisborne man was still several miles north with the rest of the Sheriff's men. If there is a Guy Gisborne. Maybe he was invented by Meridwyn. Funny, she never heard of the man who was like a brother to the Sheriff, until Meridwyn mentioned him the day they first spoke. Which was days after she was back in Nottingham following her capture. Why didn't the Sheriff ever mention his cousin, Guy Gisborne?
She didn't know where she was, but the landscape was beginning to change. She'd been riding quite awhile, but she didn't know how long. It looked like it was nearing dusk. Up ahead she was approaching a valley. She slowed the horse to a halt, dismounted, and walked with it holding the reins. The path was getting narrow. There were large ferns and plants she hadn't seen that were cropping up around her. She found a birch tree to secure the horse. She walked toward the ridge of the hill she was on. Ahead, down in the valley below was a body of water with a waterfall that flowed into it. She made her way down the steep hill toward the water.
Finally she was at the bottom. She made her way over to the edge of the water, and placed her cape over a large rock nearby. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept. She lay on the sandy ground on the water's edge to look up at the sky. The last shreds of orange pink light streaked across the sky as the sun was setting on the horizon. She felt the water pool around her skirts, but she was too tired to care. The sand was soft. She lay there, and listened to the water from the waterfall nearby, felt the water wash up under her supine body, and the wind caress her skin. It soon lulled her into a sleep.
She awoke much later. It was very dark. She opened her eyes. Her clothing was wet from lying on the water's edge. Looking to the sky she could make out a few stars glimmering as the clouds rolled past. She sat up. She felt dizzy and weak. Her mind was clouded. She didn't remember when she got here. She vaguely remembered riding her horse. Where was Meridwyn? Where was that madman? She remembered being troubled by something earlier but now it eluded her. She turned toward the waterfall. It beckoned her.
She stood and faced the waterfall. Suddenly, even though her clothes were wet, she felt very warm. And weak. The water would help. So, in her altered state of mind, she walked toward it. What would it matter to stand inside of it?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
He wasn't sure anymore if he was headed in the right direction. He went the same way she did when she left, but she could be anywhere by now. It was very dark. Guy would be on his way back to Nottingham with Meridwyn, and the Fallen Knight. He hoped that he and Rhiannon would be making their way there soon, as well. It was very late, but he had no intention of stopping. She was riding alone in the dark with no sense of direction. Too many dangers were present. He had to find her.
He was just as surprised as anyone when Meridwyn kissed him. He was certain Meridwyn didn't realize what she was doing. She fell unconscious after that. He wished his lady had given him the opportunity to explain what happened, before she reached a hasty conclusion and ventured alone on a horse.
He was approaching high ground, a ridge that lead down into a valley where there was a waterfall that flowed into a small lake. He kept going a little way, prepared to take another direction, when he spotted the horse secured to a birch tree. He found another near to it to secure his.
Moments later he was standing at the ridge looking down, desperately trying to adjust his vision in the dark. He thought he could see a figure standing in the waterfall. He told himself he was seeing things. The idea was absurd. If that was Lady Rhiannon down there, what in heaven's name was she doing standing in a waterfall?
Poison. The answer came to him immediately. Yes. It happened before. Cursing the dark, he made his way to a narrow path that would lead down into the valley.
The water felt soft and rhythmic on her skin. Washing away all her cares. By this time, her bodice was removed, she'd pushed it down to her waist. She felt so warm. She couldn't get enough of the cool water on her skin. She wanted to keep standing there. She was weak, yet oddly exhilarated. Though at times she thought she saw things, and heard voices. Sometimes they frightened her. Why did she feel so strange? Strange, yet carefee all in the same moment.
The Sheriff was down in the valley. He walked along the edge of the water and nearly stumbled over a large rock. Draped over the rock was Rhiannon's black velvet cape. He looked toward the waterfall. He could see more clearly. That must be her standing in the waterfall. He removed his cloak, coat, and tunic, and proceeded toward her. She was facing the opposite direction, her back to him.
"Rhiannon…" he called out to her.
There were those voices again. Make them go away, she willed the water falling upon her and all around her. Make them disappear. She felt so weak.
"My Lady…" he spoke, less than three feet behind her now.
"Make him disappear…" she whispered, as she willed the waterfall. She was frightened, but uncertain why.
"I'm not about to disappear." He said. He reached for her shoulder. She tensed but turned around to face him.
She tried to adjust her eyesight in the dark, through the flowing water. It looked like….was she dreaming?
"My Lord." She whispered. She remembered something. She'd been angry with him for some reason earlier. But now, she couldn't remember why. He came closer until she could feel his heat near to her skin.
"A rather odd time of day to take a bath, my love." He said with a smile.
"I….needed….cool…..water…" she managed in a whisper. Everything around her began to spin. She felt so light. She stared to slump in the water, but he quickly caught her and held her tightly to him.
"Rhiannon, don't do that to me again…." He began.
"Do what?" she whispered.
"Leave me like that."
"I never left you." She whispered weakly.
He was puzzled. He held her out from him a little to see her face better. Her eyes were fluttering. The muscles in her face were slack. She didn't remember.
"My Lady." He whispered as he looked upon her. She opened her eyes then and looked at him. Then she put her arms about his neck and leaned in to kiss him.
She didn't know why she'd been angry with him before, but she knew that she'd missed him. Her longing for him overpowered her anger. Clearly, it couldn't have been important. His lips were warm upon hers. She felt an increase in the heat of her body, more than what she was already experiencing.
"I missed you so much." She whispered to him.
"I missed you too." He said as he kissed her neck. He stopped and looked at her. "No more venturing off by yourself on horses. Stay with me, Rhiannon. Let's go home."
"Home." She whispered. "There is no one there…."
"I'm talking about the castle, my lady. You shall have me. Always." He reassured her.
"I won't be alone anymore?" she asked.
"No, my lady." He said. He was glad he found her in time. She was not herself. It was a miracle she knew who he was. So confused, and obviously unwell.
"Come, my lady." He said.
"No. I want to stay here. The water is….so….cool…" she whispered. She closed her eyes and pressed her body into him. He wanted her, desperately. But he couldn't. It was clear to him, she had no idea what made her run away from him when he saw her at the cabin.
"Oh, my Lady. It's okay. You're safe. He can never hurt you again."
"Where is Meridwyn?" she asked.
"She's on her way back home. To Nottingham Castle, with Guy."
"Guy?" she asked weakly.
"Yes. My cousin, Guy. He's my Deputy as well. Don't worry, my love." He reassured as he kissed her head and stroked her hair. It felt so good to hold her again.
"I'm glad…you're here.." she whispered. She began to slide out of his grasp, down into the water. His response was rapid. He caught her quickly and lifter her in his arms. Her skin felt very warm, despite standing in the cool water. He carried her over to a place between the lake and the trees. Then he went to the spot nearby where her cape, and his outer garments and tunic were and brought them to where she lay. He spread her cape on the ground, placed her upon it, and quickly removed her soaked gown. Then he dressed her in his tunic and covered her with his cloak.
"Rhiannon." He said as he knelt beside her.
She mumbled an unintelligible response.
"When was the last time you took some water to drink?" He wondered if she was a little dehydrated. He also thought it might help to purge whatever poison may be circulating in her body.
"I don't know…." She muttered.
The Sheriff reached beside him to grab his flask of water out of his coat pocket. He unscrewed the cap then placed it to her lips. She took a little, then closed her eyes. He laid down beside her and held her to him. She was starting to shiver. He stroked her hair and lightly kissed her neck.
"My Lady." He said. "Stay with me…"
"I am." She replied.
"I need you to be strong, Rhiannon." He all but pleaded. He didn't want her to enter into that interminable slumber again. They still had some distance to cover before she was safe at the castle. He tried to offer her some more of the water.
"Drink." He instructed.
"No…no. I'm so… sleepy." She muttered.
"Do it!" He commanded. And she responded, finally. She took a greater measure of water this time, barely opening her eyes.
She found it too difficult to open her eyes. Her eyelids were so heavy. But she knew he was there with her. Her dark prince. Protecting her. Then, she opened her eyes and said something that surprised him.
"You really do love me."
"Of course I do, Rhiannon." He replied. "Why? Why would you think otherwise?"
"Say it." She whispered.
"I just did."
"No you didn't." she challenged him. "Say it to me."
He leaned on his elbow and looked down upon her.
"My Lady, open your eyes. Look at me." He ordered.
She obeyed. She tried to focus. His face was so close to hers. His serious hazel eyes were burning into hers, urging her to believe his words.
"My Lady Rhiannon, know this. I've never loved anyone, until you." He said, never breaking eye contact.
"I love you, My Lord." She whispered faintly.
"I know, my Lady. Do not doubt what I say to you now. The only woman whose ever heard those words uttered from my lips, is you."
Lady Rhiannon smiled serenely, as she tried to look into his eyes. She wanted so desperately to remain awake. It had been too long since they'd been together. But she was so incredibly fatigued. She placed her soft hand on his face, caressing him. Running her fingers over his cheek, and his lips. Then she smiled and said:
"My love, I promise I shall make it up to you." She whispered, and her eyelids began to grow heavy again. "Forgive me. I'm so….tired."
"Alright, my love." He said, finally relenting. He kissed her, then held her close, making certain she was adequately covered by the warm cloak.
She was sound asleep within seconds. He lay there for awhile, watching her sleep. Except for wondering about his child he'd never met, he realized he'd never been this happy in his life. Watching her turned toward him, her face registered pure calm and beauty. Her skin was radiant, even in the dark. He lightly caressed her hair, and ran his hand down over her shoulder and the length of her slender arm. She was so beautiful. She was his. Even dressed in his tunic she looked irresistible. He hoped, by some miracle, that Duke Farnsworth would find his child. He didn't want to have to leave her again for a very long time.
Curses on that hooded viper and his relentless games! Every time he and Lady Rhiannon were given any time to spend with one another, the Fallen Knight always managed to get in the way and ruin everything. The more he thought about it, the more he started to feel the old familiar feeling of rage boiling up inside of him. He still planned to channel some of that rage towards the outlaw when he was finally ready to be finished with him. The Sheriff hoped that Lady Rhiannon would never have to bare witness to it though. The last thing he ever intended to do was to frighten her. She'd never seen him when he was overcome with anger. He never wanted to let her down. He couldn't bare to disappoint her.
"Sleep, my angel." He sighed as he looked upon her lovely face. Her perfect rosebud full lips. Her shiny sable hair. Her milky skin.
He couldn't believe one woman, and only one, could make him feel the way she made him feel. He never thought it possible. Not once in his entire life did he ever aspire to be a husband, or a father. And if all went well, he would be both. He'd had many goals, but none were as innate or basic as that of all of his comrades, even his cousin, Guy. He finally understood it, what it was all about. What his life meant.
"I'm drowning in your glory, my lovely Lady Nottingham." He whispered as he held her. He was so content, that for the first time in weeks, he felt his body begin to relax. Feeling her warmth, her breath gently caress his face, and the sound of the waterfall close by, was like a lullaby to his soul. He slept soundly.
