In the early morning hours the Sheriff awoke still resting in the same position, facing his lady. He opened his eyes. Lady Rhiannon's eyes were already opened and fixed upon his. He raised himself up on his elbow, startled to see her awake.
"Rhiannon?" He whispered.
She raised her left hand up slowly and began to caress his cheek.
"What day is it?" she mumbled.
"It is Tuesday." He said, smiling, grateful to hear her speak.
"Oh? I slept for four days? That is ludicrous!" Rhiannon exclaimed. She tried to raise herself up from the bed. Finally she managed a sitting position. The Sheriff sat up and placed his arm about her to steady her.
"My love…" the Sheriff began "in fact it was not four days. It was…"
"Oh, why am I feeling so dizzy?" Rhiannon said. Just then she suddenly bent forward, raised her knees up to her chest, and placed her head there and began to rock back and forth.
"My lady?" the Sheriff said, puzzled. "Are you quite yourself?"
"No. But I will be…" Rhiannon mumbled, still bent forward.
The Sheriff arose from the bed and threw on his black silk quilted robe. He was still dressed in his breeches, and a shirt which he casually left unbuttoned. Rhiannon straightened up and looked up at him curiously.
"I must send for Lady Margaret." The Sheriff said.
"Oh, no. Not again." Rhiannon sighed. "I'll be confined forever to this chamber if you do that."
He went to her and put his hand upon her cheek. "Rhiannon, you have been sleeping nearly a fortnight! This is the eleventh day."
"I don't understand?" Rhiannon shook her head. "That cannot be!"
"Whatever made you ill when I found you the first time, came back." The Sheriff said. He already knew what it was that caused her illness, but last time he checked, she was unaware.
"Oh wait…yes. I did hear them at some point." Rhiannon remarked. "Lady Margaret and Mortianna."
The Sheriff was puzzled. He eyed her curiously. "What do you mean, my lady?"
"I just heard voices. Their's, in fact. I heard Mortianna express concern for me. Then I heard Lady Margaret say she was going to speak to you."
The Sheriff narrowed his eyes and shook his head slightly. Did Lady Rhiannon hear them speaking when he came in the night before and found the two women at the bedside? But she was unconscious? How did she hear them? He saw her for himself. She was not awake!
"Are you certain?" the Sheriff asked.
"Yes. Lady Margaret said something about -'the Sheriff needing to prepare himself'." Rhiannon replied.
The Sheriff tried to conceal his astonishment. He swallowed. "You heard her say that?" he asked again.
"Yes, I did. It made me angry." Rhiannon said. "I wanted to scream but I couldn't. I tried. I couldn't even open my eyes. But, finally, after I tried very hard, I made it happen."
The Sheriff smiled.
"So, what did I miss." Rhiannon asked.
The Sheriff chuckled and embraced her. "My lady, it is good to have you back." He said as he kissed the top of her head.
"I'm not being funny." Rhiannon said moments later when she pulled away and looked up into his eyes. "Really, did I miss anything? Because I'm sure I must have. Was I really asleep for that long?"
"Yes you were. And no, you didn't miss anything." The Sheriff smiled.
"I should say I shall not require sleep again for days and days." Rhiannon said. Her head began to ache, and she felt very light. She bent her head forward, placing it in her hands.
"My lady?" The Sheriff asked.
"Why is everything moving?" she exclaimed. She looked at him and tried to focus. "You are moving too!" Rhiannon cried.
"My love, lay back and rest. I'm sending for Lady Margaret. You must be examined." He said.
"No!" Rhiannon exclaimed. He watched her. She was no longer paying attention to him. Instead there was a grimace upon her face. She brought her left hand up to her forehead, then fell back upon the pillows. He ignored her wishes and used the moment to his advantage. He left the chambers, spoke to the guard outside, and requested that Lady Margaret be brought back to the private chambers to examine Lady Rhiannon. When he returned to the bedside she looked up at him.
"You sent for her, didn't you?" Rhiannon said.
The Sheriff nodded.
"I don't want her. I only want you!" she exclaimed.
The Sheriff went to her and sat beside her. "My angel, I am not knowledgeable in these matters. Lady Margaret is skilled. I think she is as good as my physician." The Sheriff said as he smoothed her hair.
"Right." Rhiannon said. "There's been something I've been meaning to ask you about that. But at this moment, I feel too unwell to bother with it."
"About what?" The Sheriff asked.
"Oh…I don't know." She began. "Perhaps it is – why you assigned a midwife to be in charge of my care." She closed her eyes and grimaced again.
The Sheriff was startled. He could tell already her faculties were not altered in any way by the length of her slumber.
"My lady, there was a good reason why I hired Lady Margaret to oversee your care. It was…" He was cut off.
"Because I'm the closest thing to a nurse this town has to offer!" Lady Margaret said.
The Sheriff turned around at the sound of her voice. She was at the doorway between the den and the private chambers. Lady Rhiannon rolled her eyes.
Lady Margaret continued toward them, placing her bag of supplies on an empty chair near the bed. She put her hands upon her hips.
"The lady and I have already had this discussion once before." Lady Margaret said to the Sheriff. "She knows why you hired me." She then looked at Rhiannon. "Don't you, Rhiannon?" She challenged.
"Go away!" Rhiannon cried. She pulled the linens up over her head.
Lady Margaret reached around the Sheriff, who was still seated there upon the bed - not having had a moment to get out of the way, and swiftly pulled the blankets back down.
"Last I checked, I haven't been fired. A little cooperation my lady, if you please!" Lady Margaret admonished.
The Sheriff couldn't help but chuckle to himself over the banter between them. He arose from the bed, and headed out of the chamber. At the doorway into the den, he paused and turned around.
"I'll leave you ladies to it then." He said.
"Indeed." Lady Margaret called to him. "Give me a few moments to examine her. Then I will speak to you."
The Sheriff nodded and left them alone while Lady Margaret commenced her assessment.
Thirty minutes later, the Sheriff was receiving her report.
"I think the worst of it is over, my Lord. I'm sure she relapsed because she failed to heed my instructions the first time." Lady Margaret sighed.
"I did not know that." The Sheriff mentioned.
"You were not here, my Lord. Alas, that was the problem. She was restless, irritable, and utterly uncooperative. She wouldn't heed my advice regarding rest." Lady Margaret began. "But, you are here now. So I think she will follow my instructions."
"Why do you say that?" he asked, perplexed.
"She won't listen to me. She won't listen to a lot of people. But, she will listen to you. And I know that you want what's best for her. So if I say she needs rest, you'll make sure she gets it." Lady Margaret sighed. "God knows she wouldn't."
"Yes." The Sheriff said. "So, what are we to do now? Will she recover?"
"Continue with rest, liquids, and nourishment. She will recover but she has been bedridden many days. She will be very weakened when she tries to bear weight or walk. Her muscles have been idle all this time." Lady Margaret stated.
"Indeed. She said she felt dizzy this morning." The Sheriff mused.
"That is normal." Lady Margaret said as she looked into her bag to make certain she hadn't left anything at the bedside.
The Sheriff watched her. He was impressed with her knowledge and thoroughness. He decided to do something he rarely did. Pay a compliment.
"You know, Lady Margaret – I've been observing you for some time. Now I understand why my Officer Curran holds you in high esteem." The Sheriff remarked.
Lady Margaret blushed. "My husband is one in a million, my Lord. In his eyes I have no faults." She replied modestly.
"Regarding your profession, he is right." The Sheriff cleared his throat. "You'd make a good physician."
"I have thought about it, but James and I have children." She said.
"Yes, I know. Who is taking care of them while you've been here?"
"My mother. Our eldest daughter helps out a great deal as well. She is twelve."
"If you want it, it can be done." The Sheriff said.
"Perhaps. But right now, it will have to wait." Lady Margaret said. "We must get your lady well again. For your wedding."
"Yes." He said. "My wedding." He smiled.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Later in the afternoon the Sheriff found Guy speaking to Thomas Crumwell in the hall outside of the Council Quarters. He approached them slowly, not wanting to interrupt. They were probably discussing Lady Meridwyn. Guy saw him and nodded for him to proceed.
"Cousin! How does your lady fare?" Guy asked.
"Better." The Sheriff smiled. "She has finally awakened."
The physician looked at the Sheriff. "Your cousin tells me that Lady Margaret has been supervising her care, my Lord. It sounds like she did everything right."
"Indeed, Thomas. Things are finally beginning to look up. And it's funny I should see you here. I wondered if I might have a word with you?" The Sheriff asked.
"Of course, my Lord." Thomas said.
Guy nodded to the Sheriff and indicated the Council Quarters where he would wait. The Sheriff and the physician walked a few feet away and began their discussion. After a time, they heard a commotion. The Sheriff excused himself and proceeded inside the Council Quarters. Guy was there with two guards, a man the Sheriff had never seen, and for some strange reason, the same young man he saw the day before who delivered the message to him from the Duke. There was shouting going on back and forth, but the Sheriff couldn't make sense of it.
"What's going on?" The Sheriff demanded.
"Cousin, this man came to see us about his sister's home being burned to the ground." Guy pointed to the first man. "And this one…" He said as he gestured toward the man the Sheriff recognized, "apparently tried to stop him from coming and disturbing you."
"I did." The man the Sheriff recognized as the messenger, said.
The Sheriff looked at him a moment, then over at the first man. The strange man was older, with reddish blond hair that was balding. He was short and stout.
"What's this about your sister's home?" The Sheriff asked him. He could already tell the homely looking man was related to the evil twins.
"I went to call upon my sister today. Her home was burned to the ground. There is nothing left! I don't even know if she was inside!"
"Did you look around?" The Sheriff asked.
"As much as I could. There was still smoke, and the ashes are very hot."
"And what do you want from me?" The Sheriff asked pointedly, unfazed by the intrusion. Guy took note, for he in fact was quite uncomfortable. He knew exactly what the man was referring to – Hestia's home.
"I just want to know if my sister was inside. And I thought you should know in case there were a band of rebels in this county who were responsible."
"That's not what you said in the courtyard!" The young man who was familiar to the Sheriff exclaimed.
"Keep your bloody nose out of it!" The first man shouted as he bolted for him. The two guards grabbed the men to restrain them.
"Enough!" the Sheriff barked. He had a feeling the messenger was right, however. He looked to the guard who restrained the young man he recognized.
"Take him outside the room." The Sheriff instructed. "I will send for him in a few moments."
The guard obeyed. When the door was closed, the Sheriff continued.
"Did you really believe it was a band of rebels who were responsible?" The Sheriff asked as he moved in toward Hestia's brother. "Or did you in fact, believe it was me?"
"No – I…" the man stammered.
"That's why he tried to stop you, isn't it?" The Sheriff challenged. The man only looked at him.
"Yes, well, we'll find out if your sister was in there. Leave an address with my Scribe so we know where to send word to you." The Sheriff remarked.
"Yes, my Lord." The man said. The Sheriff nodded for the guard to let him go. Just before the man turned to leave the Sheriff spoke.
"You're not from Nottingham, are you?" the Sheriff asked.
"No, my Lord." The man replied.
"Good." The Sheriff said as he clapped his hands together.
When the guard and Hestia's brother left, Guy turned to the Sheriff.
"You were very composed, cousin."
"Yes, Guy. It is necessary." The Sheriff slapped his hand on Guy's shoulder. "You've been out of practice. Yes. What has it been now? Three years since we killed anybody?"
"Yes." Guy said quietly.
"Well you must remember how to act." The Sheriff said as he poured himself a goblet of water and sipped it. Then he called for the guard. The guard appeared in the doorway.
"Bring the other young man to me." The Sheriff commanded.
"Yes, my Lord."
In moments the same young man who brought the message to the Sheriff from the Duke the day before, stood before him.
"My Lord." The young man nodded to him.
"Tell me what happened in the courtyard." The Sheriff demanded.
"Do you really want to know?" The young man replied.
"Indeed." The Sheriff said.
"He was talking rubbish about you. He was accusing you of burning down his sister's home and he didn't care who heard about it. I tried to stop him."
"Why?" the Sheriff probed as he inched closer to him.
"Because I met you yesterday. You did not seem capable to me." The young man replied. He was tall and lean with short brown hair and a sparse mustache. His eyes were greenish blue, and appeared kind.
"You gathered that in five minutes?" the Sheriff asked.
"It just didn't seem possible to me." The young man said.
The Sheriff paused to look upon him, then began to pace about the room. Guy was curious where this was leading.
"You only spoke to me for a few moments, in fact you didn't know who I was until I told you. Yet, you were loyal to me." The Sheriff said, his left eyebrow raised.
The young man maintained his gaze, but said nothing.
"Do you have a wife and family to return to?" The Sheriff asked.
"No, my Lord. I have nothing but an empty manor waiting for me." He replied.
"I could use someone like you around here." He looked to Guy. "Couldn't we, cousin?"
"Indeed, cousin." Guy remarked.
"What is your name, lad?" The Sheriff asked the young man.
"It is Luke, my Lord."
"What are your skills, Luke?"
"Excuse me?" Luke asked.
"What are you good at?" the Sheriff clarified.
"Well, I'm good at riding. Good with a bow."
"Very good." The Sheriff mused, as he rubbed his chin.
"I'm a fast runner. I write rather well, and I can cook!" Luke added enthusiastically.
The Sheriff chuckled. "Well, Luke – that's good to hear, but my soldiers don't do the cooking."
"Soldier?"
"Yes. You can do everything my men can do, except, well, they cannot cook." The Sheriff laughed. "Trust me, I know."
Guy chuckled.
"Oh, great!" Luke said. "When do I begin?"
"I just love to see such eagerness, don't you, cousin?" The Sheriff remarked as he looked over at Guy. Luke was clearly puzzled.
"Oh, yes, Luke. This is my Lieutenant, Sir Guy of Gisborne." The Sheriff said as he gestured to Guy. "He just happens to be related to me as well." He grinned.
Luke nodded to Guy. "Sir Gisborne."
"Welcome." Guy said.
"Yes, now…where were we?" The Sheriff began. "Well, Luke, first you require training. You will begin training as one of my guards. Once you've mastered the skills and graduated from that, then you move up into my militia."
"That sounds fine." Luke said. "I am willing to learn and I am a quick study."
"Good." The Sheriff smiled. "I will have the guards show you to your quarters." He nodded to the guard who was standing at attention in the doorway. Luke nodded to the Sheriff, and was escorted from the chamber by the guard.
"You sure you want to do that, cousin?" Guy asked him. "He is not even from here."
"Loyalty is a gift, cousin. That young man was more loyal to me after knowing me for five minutes, than some in this town have shown who've known me for years!" the Sheriff pointed out.
"I suppose you're right."
"I am. I know because my gut instinct tells me I am. And my gut told me not to let that lad get away." The Sheriff said. "I think he will be invaluable to us."
"Perhaps." Guy said. He decided to change the topic. "Earlier you said Lady Rhiannon had awakened?"
"Yes. She has finally come out of that cursed slumber!"
"And how is she?"
"Very weak. But not too weak to argue with Lady Margaret." The Sheriff replied.
Guy chuckled. "I'm sure that's a good sign."
"Indeed. I'm quite relieved."
"Now that we're finished with…Hestia, I can oversee my duties of the dungeon again." Guy suggested.
"That's good." The Sheriff said.
"I thought I'd go there now and interview the prisoner."
"If you can get him to talk, I want to know your technique." The Sheriff remarked.
"Indeed. I didn't have luck with him yesterday. I'm sure not much has changed." Guy said.
The Sheriff didn't respond. He didn't want to encourage Guy. His cousin proceeded anyway.
"There's no point keeping him alive any longer, George." Guy said.
"He offered a great deal of valuable information the night before he became like a mute. If I could only get more out of him!" The Sheriff huffed.
"Well, it would appear you are not." Guy commented.
"He will die, cousin. I've told you this already. But he dies when I decide the time is right." The Sheriff announced.
"Very well."
"And I'd appreciate it if you'd cease pestering me about it. God knows I have enough to concern myself over." The Sheriff sighed.
"Yes, cousin." Guy said as turned to leave.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Later in the dungeon, Guy and the guard Joseph were inside the prisoner's cell. The prisoner hadn't said a word. He continued with the same inaudible mutterings that Guy witnessed the day before when he came by the dungeon briefly.
"Did someone get a hold of the Sheriff's tongue snippers?" Guy shouted. "Who cut out your tongue?"
The guard laughed. Guy looked over at him.
"That's what the Sheriff said!" The guard chuckled. Guy shot him a stern look, and the guard looked away, embarrassed.
"You haven't spoken in days." Guy hissed as he moved in closer to the prisoner. "Why is that?"
The prisoner shook his head silently.
"I don't remember you being speechless before. In fact, it was difficult to get you to hold your tongue!"
The prisoner stood there motionless, keeping his eyes fixed upon Gisborne.
"If it were up to me, you'd be dead by now." Guy snarled. He exited the cell then, impatient with the prisoner. The guard shook his head at the prisoner, then followed Gisborne.
"I need someone in charge of the place to report to me." Guy said to the guard.
"I am Joseph, Sir Gisborne. Yesterday, the Sheriff appointed me jailer until Hector returns." The guard replied.
Guy was surprised. "Is that a fact?" He commented, sarcastically.
"Yes, my Lord." Joseph said.
"Keep a closer eye on our prisoner. Let me know if you notice anything else strange about him – besides the fact he seems to have swallowed his tongue!" Guy spat.
"Yes, Sir Gisborne. It will be done."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
And so, in the days that followed, Guy gave a daily report to the Sheriff. The prisoner still continued with his vow of silence. The guards hadn't noticed anything else that was different, except that he was more cooperative than his initial first few days of being held there. The Sheriff found it peculiar, but every time he had a moment to think on it, something always happened that diverted his attention.
A week had passed. Rhiannon was gradually gaining strength. Soon she would be well enough to think about their wedding again. Sometime soon, though it was difficult to predict, the child would arrive. There was much to plan. And still much to try to figure out. Something was causing the Sheriff concern. He had a feeling there was something amiss, but he couldn't quite identify what caused his unease.
He was seated in his office, which was very rare for him. For some reason, however, he felt a sudden need to be shut away for a time, in a dark, quiet room. He was glad to have a moment alone. Perhaps now he could think.
There was a knock at the door. He shook his head. Who knew he was here? It never ceased to amaze him how he could always be found.
"Enter!" the Sheriff called out.
The door opened and the Scribe stood there to greet the Sheriff.
"Yes?" the Sheriff said.
"A message for you from Baron Amos in the North, sire. It is marked 'urgent'."
The Sheriff looked at him curiously. "Do you have it?" He asked.
"Yes, sire. The messenger was told he could leave it with me if you were found to be unavailable." The Scribe said. He went over the Sheriff and handed him the scroll.
"Wait there." The Sheriff said. "Let me see what this is about."
The Scribe obeyed.
The Sheriff pried the wax seal open and unfurled the document.
"My Lord Sheriff;
A curious thing is happening in my county here in the North. I thought you should be informed. Two more maidens have been reported missing. There was nothing for many months, but now, it has started again. Since you've mentioned the same thing happening in the past, about maidens disappearing in your county, I thought it best to warn the matter is a grave concern once more.
Sincerely,
Baron Amos."
The Sheriff's eyes flew open. Nothing for months, he said, and now? Why now? The Sheriff pondered. This is just like before. Who would…
The prisoner! How long had it been since he'd been behaving so strangely? He hadn't spoken in – what? The Sheriff thought about it. It was over a fortnight! Oddly, he'd been rather cooperative as well. And the business with Hector never sat right with the Sheriff. Suddenly, he knew!
The Sheriff's jaw flew agape. The Scribe looked at him curiously.
"Find me Gisborne!" The Sheriff commanded. "Tell him to meet me in the dungeon at once!" The Sheriff arose from his seat. "And tell him – that I think I found his golden boy."
The Scribe couldn't make sense of the Sheriff's words, but he took note, nodded and exited. The Sheriff kicked the table leg on his way out of the door. Curses! He should have figured this out long ago!
