Hours later, there was another knock on the door of the den. Rhiannon went to answer it. Lady Meridwyn stood there looking much better than when Rhiannon saw her in the corridor of the main floor.
"Meridwyn! How are you feeling now? Come in." Rhiannon said.
"Much better now. Thanks for summoning Mortianna for me. I was right, the batwing tea indeed made me feel restored." Meridwyn remarked.
"Good." Lady Rhiannon said. She went to a table in the den where there was a large pitcher of water. She poured it into a goblet and took a long draught from the goblet until it was gone, then proceeded to pour some more water for herself.
"Maybe I should be asking you if you're alright?" Meridwyn said as she raised her eyebrow at her.
"My mouth is so dry. I can't seem to get enough water." Rhiannon commented.
"How very odd?" Meridwyn said.
"Yes. It is indeed puzzling." Rhiannon said as she drank from the goblet once more.
"I was wondering if you'd accompany me for a stroll in the gardens. I think the air will be good for me. Maybe it will be good for you too?" Meridwyn suggested.
"Indeed." Rhiannon agreed. She finished her goblet of water and the ladies took their leave.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
On Thursday morning, Lady Brigid awoke on the small thin mattress in the cold, dark room. Her hands were still bound behind her. There was only two ways out of this predicament. Find a way to escape, or submit to her own death. At this point she was uncertain which would be the better course of action. She didn't relish the thought of spending her remaining few hours of life with this madman. But then again, what was the reason to go on living? In her mind, her life ended nearly a fortnight ago when her betrothed was hung in the village square.
"Oh, Hector." She whispered. "Help me. I know not what to do." She felt a tear spill out of the corner of her eye and down her cheek. How she missed her handsome lover. She wondered how she would go on without him, if she ever got out of this cursed mess.
Suddenly, the door to the chill dark room flew open. The hooded madman was there at the doorway. He advanced slowly toward her, like an animal hunting his prey.
"So, my precious. Have we learned what not to do while you are…my guest?" He snarled.
"Huh! Your guest? You must be jesting!" Lady Brigid remarked.
The Fallen Knight was stirred. This feisty maiden was a bit of a handful. Though, he did rather admire her fearlessness. Not to mention…her beauty.
"Well now, my precious, I was trying to be polite about it." He said.
"You wouldn't know the meaning of the word 'polite' if it bit you on your ear!" Lady Brigid spat.
He walked toward her until he was inches away. Then he crouched down and began to stroke her cheek.
"You know….you are fortunate that you are such a fair maiden. I've met a few unsavoury ones these last two years, and they met their end when they spoke out of turn to me." The Fallen Knight hinted.
Lady Brigid felt a chill travel up and down her spine. He said: these last two years. Oh my god. Was he the one? Was he the one responsible for the scores of missing maidens in Nottingham and other parts of England?
"You are him. Aren't you?" Brigid asked.
"Him…who?" The Fallen Knight teased. For he guessed the beautiful blond, blue eyed maiden was beginning to get the picture.
"The man who is responsible for the scores of missing maidens in this kingdom! You killed them, didn't you?" She said.
"Well, not all of them." The Fallen Knight smirked.
"How many then?"
"My precious, you must not concern yourself with it. The only thing that matters is you. And what do you think I will do to you?" The madman taunted her.
"Kill me." Brigid replied, matter of factly.
He stroked her cheek and brought his hand to her shoulder, then moved it toward her décolleté.
"Not yet, my fair maiden. Not yet. We haven't begun the merriment…yet." He sneered.
"Don't do this." Lady Brigid pleaded. "Please, don't do this…"
He swiftly put one hand over her mouth as he pushed her down onto the mattress. With the other hand he grabbed the bodice of her gown and ripped it open in a swift fluid motion.
"Too late, my precious. It's too late. For you grabbed my attention the second I cast my eyes upon you." The Fallen Knight hissed in her ear.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"There it is, cousin. Up ahead - through those trees. I'm sure of it!" The Sheriff exclaimed to Guy as he pointed ahead.
"Finally! Let's do it." Guy said.
They secured their horses thirty yards away from the cabin and made their way through the trees and brush, down the slight incline toward the front door of the cabin. When they arrived at the front entrance on the east side of it, they peered in through the large window. It was dark, but it appeared there was nobody in the room.
"They have to be in there." Guy said.
"Of course they are. His horse is secured over there!" The Sheriff pointed to it. It was secured to a tree at the southeast side of the cabin.
"Yes, of course." Guy said.
"Let's go around the back." The Sheriff said. "You have your sword?"
"Yes. Got it." Guy pointed to it.
"Good. Let's get this sick paltry bastard." The Sheriff spat.
The two men walked around on the north side of the cabin, down the incline and got to the back entrance on the west side of the cabin. They crouched below the same rear window they positioned themselves at when they came for their ladies, on the far side of the back door. Both of them slowly crept up and peered through the window.
It took a moment to adjust his eyes looking into the dark room. But the Sheriff saw them. Two figures down on the floor. A young woman dressed in black was pinned down lying on her back. Her gown was open to the waist. His eyes widened. The hooded madman was straddling her and attempting to remove her gown. Just like he'd done to Rhiannon! He felt a fury rise within him.
"He's attempting to violate her!" The Sheriff spat. "Come on, Guy. We have to stop this nonsense!"
"Indeed." Guy snarled knowingly.
"Remember, cousin. Do with him what you will. But he is mine to kill!" The Sheriff reminded him. Guy nodded.
They stood up. Guy went to the door and kicked it in. The door banged against the wall announcing their entrance. The Fallen Knight looked up. The Sheriff and Guy drew their swords. Lady Brigid looked to her left. Silhouetted against the light behind them, stood two tall men, both dressed in black studded in silver. She couldn't make out their faces right away.
"Oh. It's you two. The good Sheriff of Nottingham, and his puppet!" The Fallen Knight said as he quickly got up, leaving Lady Brigid on the mattress. Lady Brigid groaned.
Lady Brigid shuffled on the mattress. She wanted to pull her gown closed but her hands were still bound behind her.
"Get him, Guy!" The Sheriff commanded.
Guy ran after him, but the madman was swift. He managed to run through the entire cabin toward the front entrance. Guy pursued him.
The Sheriff uttered some obscenities under his breath. He went toward Lady Brigid. She looked away, embarrassed, for she was exposed.
He knelt down before her, laying his sword down beside her and quickly unbound her hands. She grabbed the edges of her gown and pulled them close to cover her.
"You're safe now, my lady." The Sheriff reassured her.
Lady Brigid was trembling, a tear was streaming down her face but she angrily wiped it away with the back of her hand as she continued to hold her gown closed with her left hand.
"Stay here, Lady Brigid." The Sheriff instructed. "My Lieutenant and I shall come back for you to return you home."
Lady Brigid looked at him, into his amber eyes, but was unable to speak. She didn't know what she more shocked about. The fact that she was captured, and then moments ago, nearly violated? Or, the fact that she was rescued by the Sheriff of Nottingham? The same man who ordered the execution of her beloved Hector!
"My lady? Do you understand me?" The Sheriff asked. "It is not safe until we capture him."
"Yes." She muttered weakly.
"Good." The Sheriff said as he quickly arose. He picked up his sword and ran through the room in the same direction that Guy and the Fallen Knight had taken moments ago.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Rhiannon was seated by the window in the private chamber. She was holding a goblet of water in her hand. She was still incredibly thirsty at times. As she took a large gulp from the goblet, she thought of the Sheriff. Was he close to finding the maiden he was searching for? She hoped he wouldn't be away from her for too long.
She gazed out the window into the distance. For some reason, her vision was slightly blurred. But then she saw it. A dark haired man dressed all in black, upon a fine black steed. "My love!" She cried. She stood up. The regal dark prince upon the midnight black mare was coming closer. She tried to wave to get his attention and called out to him. He ignored her.
"George!" She called.
*Ring* *Ring*. What was that? A bell? Rhiannon shook her head and looked toward the door of the private chamber. There it was again. A small sound of a bell. Why was she hearing bells? She ignored it. She took another sip of the water and looked back out of the window. Where was he? She had just seen him coming! Had he approached the castle that quickly?
The bell pealed again. Where was the sound of the bell coming from? She picked up her goblet of water and walked out toward the den. She looked around. As her eyes roamed the general direction where Mortianna's bell was located, the bell sounded again. She saw it on the wall. A memory came to her.
"Listen for the soft bell in the den. You will see it there on the wall if you look for it. I shall ring the bell to signal for you when it is time." Mortianna had said. The potion. Mortianna was calling her to take the potion. Yes! She shuffled over to the door and went down the stone circular steps down into the depths below to Mortianna's apothecary.
Mortianna was waiting for her at the foot of the stairs.
"My child. What causes thee to tarry?" Mortianna asked.
"Oh, I had just finished dressing." Rhiannon lied. Damn! Had she remembered to bring her empty vial with her? She felt the outside of her gown pocket. She sighed. It was there. But she couldn't remember when she put it there.
Mortianna nodded toward the small table. Rhiannon went to it but this time chose not to sit. She put her goblet of water on the table.
The witch went to the large table near the fire where the cauldron was brewing. She picked up all of her necessary items and brought them over to the smaller table where Rhiannon stood.
Mortianna placed the bowl and the stir stick on the table. Still holding the vial with her left hand, she picked up the stick and stirred the mixture in the bowl. She picked it up and poured a small measure into the vial and handed it to Rhiannon. Rhiannon took it.
"Wait. Before you drink it, I shall get you a cup of ale." Mortianna said. She turned around and headed back toward the fire and where the majority of her supplies were kept.
Rhiannon set the vial on the table. She pulled her own out of her gown pocket as she kept her eyes in Mortianna's direction. She quickly unscrewed the cap, once more poured a portion from the bowl into her own vial, capped it, and quickly placed it in her gown pocket.
"Curses! Where did that I put that pitcher of ale?" Mortianna spat. "Ahh – there it is." She finally spotted it, poured from it into a cup, and brought the cup back to Lady Rhiannon.
Rhiannon was holding the vial again that Mortianna gave to her.
"Drink, my child." Mortianna said.
Rhiannon drained the contents from the vial, then took the cup of ale that Mortianna held out to her. As she sipped the ale, Mortianna spoke.
"Tell me, Lady Rhiannon…what memory are you trying to forget?"
"That man." Rhiannon replied. "That vile madman!" She knew it had something to do with him.
"And what did that man do?" Mortianna asked gently, attempting to get a sense of Rhiannon's orientation to time and place.
"He uhh…hurt me?" Rhiannon guessed.
"Indeed." Mortianna sighed. "I shall call for you again on the morrow, twenty four hours from hence. We're not there yet, my dear." Mortianna said.
"Indeed." Rhiannon agreed. Flashes of the memory were coming to her, suddenly. But the Sheriff was here! She wanted to have forgotten it all before he returned!
"My Lord has returned." Rhiannon announced as she took another sip of the ale.
Mortianna regarded her strangely. "He can't have returned already, my child. His destination was a three or four day journey?"
"He has been gone a long time." Rhiannon said.
"My child, the Sheriff only left Nottingham three days ago?" Mortianna pointed out.
"But I saw him, Mortianna. I swear to you. He was riding toward the castle on his black mare. I'd recognize him and his horse anywhere!" Rhiannon exclaimed.
"You are certain?" Mortianna asked. This was not making sense. The Sheriff probably wouldn't be arriving until at least Sunday, most likely on Monday.
"Oh, I'm so thirsty." Rhiannon said as she put the cup of ale on the table and picked up her goblet of water. Mortianna observed her curiously as she watched Rhiannon take a long draught of it until there was nothing left.
"Curses! It is gone!" Rhiannon groaned as she held the goblet upside down, and tried to shake a few drops loose onto her tongue.
"My child, you are indeed certain you saw the Sheriff coming toward the castle?" Mortianna asked again. Why was she behaving so strangely? The potion was weak! Lady Rhiannon had only had three ounces of it all in total since the administration began on Tuesday? It couldn't be the potion. Could it?
"Yes, Mortianna! Indeed, I saw him. Just before I came down to see you. I know that was him. If you put me in a crowd and asked me to search it with my eyes and point him out to you, I would spot him in no time. I say to you: I saw him outside of my window. He was upon his mare and riding toward the castle!" Rhiannon exclaimed. Why did Mortianna appear so unconvinced?
"Was Guy of Gisborne with him?" Mortianna asked pointedly.
"What?" Rhiannon asked. She drew in a sigh and looked skyward trying to recall. "I'm not sure. I do not think so. I'm sure my Lord was all alone." Rhiannon said.
"The Sheriff's Lieutenant went with him on this mission." Mortianna pointed out.
"Yes. He did, didn't he? You don't think something happened to Sir Gisborne do you, Mortianna?" Rhiannon asked. Her eyes widened in fear. Meridwyn!
"No, my child. I'm sure that they are both safe." Mortianna said. She extended her arm out toward Rhiannon and put her gnarled hand upon her shoulder.
"Are you sleeping well, my child?" Mortianna asked. She needed to find out the reason for the Sheriff's lady's bizarre behaviour.
"Now that you mention it, no. I have been having nightmares." Lady Rhiannon admitted.
"Indeed." Mortianna sighed. "Come to see me tonight before you retire, my child. My batwing tea has many uses. One of them is to relax one's soul. You may sleep better after a cup of it."
"Alright." Lady Rhiannon agreed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The Sheriff ran out the east entrance of the cabin to the front. His Lieutenant and the Fallen Knight were engaged in a sword duel. He ran up the small hill. Guy had managed to knock the sword from the Fallen Knight's hands. The Fallen Knight reacted by throwing rocks at him. As the Sheriff ran toward them, Guy was undeterred. He ran toward the Fallen Knight, and tackled him to the ground. Then the Lieutenant began to kick him repeatedly. The Fallen Knight groaned as he rolled onto his side.
"You rotten bastard!" Guy seethed. "How dare you tell me that you were once intimate with my lady!"
"That is the truth, my little puppet." The Fallen Knight spat.
Guy bent down and whacked him across his face. Then he pushed the man back onto his back, and placed his boot on him to hold him there.
The Sheriff arrived at the scene, finally. His heart was pounding in anticipation.
"He is all yours, cousin. Though I can think of several other things I wish to do to the bastard!" Guy snarled.
"Indeed, cousin." The Sheriff said with a smirk. Guy stepped aside and the Sheriff placed one of his boots firmly on the man's abdomen. He leaned down and swiftly pulled the hood off the man's face.
"A shame you showed up." The Fallen Knight said. "You may have interrupted the very last bit of fun I was about to partake in." He smirked.
"You worthless, leperous, bastard!" The Sheriff spat. He leaned down closer to lower his voice so that Guy wouldn't hear what he was about to say.
"I know what you did to my lady. You sick piece of rubbish!" The Sheriff snarled.
"And did she tell you that she enjoyed every minute of it?" The Fallen Knight taunted.
The Sheriff responded by kicking him. The Fallen Knight lay supine and brought his knees up to him in response to the pain.
"Your time is done!" The Sheriff seethed in a fury. "Though, personally, it would've been very satisfying to order you drawn and quartered, then string you on the castle walls by your own entrails, but alas, that would take too long. By the time we got you back…" The Sheriff was interrupted.
"And held in the dungeon with your incompetent guards." The madman reminded him.
"Yes. Well, you see, I'm a man of very little patience." The Sheriff said as he increased the pressure of his boot on the man's abdomen. Then he swiftly positioned his sword, the tip inches away from the man's chest. "And I cannot wait to watch you take your last pathetic breath!" He sneered as he slowly and deliberately plunged the sword straight through the man's chest, until he could feel the blade meet resistance with the ground beneath the man's back. The Fallen Knight groaned.
The Sheriff withdrew the sword as slowly as he thrust it inside of him. It only took moments after the sword was withdrawn for the man to expire. The wound was large and the bleeding profuse.
"Should we bury him?" Guy asked.
"No. Leave him for the ravens." The Sheriff instructed. For, they were already circling at the smell of the blood.
They went back inside through the front entrance. They walked through the front room, down the hall and to the back where Lady Brigid was waiting.
She was standing near to the window at the back. She wanted to fasten the bodice of her gown together but the ribbons had been torn from it.
The Sheriff walked slowly toward her.
"Why?" Lady Brigid asked him directly. She still trembled and held her garment closed so tight, her knuckles were almost white.
"My Lady?" The Sheriff began.
"Why did you come for me?" Lady Brigid asked.
"Two reasons." The Sheriff said as he kept advancing toward her until he was two feet away. "To rescue you, and to kill the paltry madman who was holding you prisoner."
"He was going to kill me after he was done with me." Lady Brigid said nonchalantly.
The Sheriff and Guy looked at her strangely.
"You would have preferred to have been violated?" Guy asked, incredulous. Surely the maiden was in shock. He looked to his cousin. The Sheriff was shaking his head.
"It wouldn't have mattered." Lady Brigid said in a slight monotone. "Because, I was going to die afterward. My misery would've been over."
"It is over." The Sheriff said.
"You don't understand!" Lady Brigid exclaimed angrily. "You killed the wrong person – my Hector! You should have just let me die!" Lady Brigid began to cry. She was so confused. She was grateful to be rescued, but why did it have to be him?
The Sheriff removed his heavy black cloak and placed it around her shoulders to cover her.
"Come, Lady Brigid." The Sheriff smiled. "We must get you home. Your mother is quite worried about you."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Near midday, the ladies Rhiannon and Meridwyn were sitting outside in the gardens just as they had the day before. It was a fairly sunny day, though some large fluffy cumulus clouds would occasionally block the sun's rays.
Meridwyn was startled when Rhiannon made a strange comment.
"I'm surprised you would wish to be with me, rather than Sir Guy." Rhiannon commented.
"Whatever do you mean?" Meridwyn asked.
"I saw my Lord, Meridwyn. This morning! He was upon his horse riding toward this castle! Though, I don't know why I haven't seen him as yet. He must have had some business to attend to." Rhiannon lamented.
Meridwyn regarded her strangely. What on earth was she talking about? Guy had said they probably wouldn't return for at least a week!
"No. You couldn't have seen him, Rhiannon." Meridwyn said.
"Is Guy back? Have you seen him?" Rhiannon asked.
"No, my dear. Our men are away on a mission. They won't be back for three or four more days. And that is if all goes well." Meridwyn reminded her.
Lady Rhiannon blinked her eyes. It had been difficult to focus. Occasionally, ever since last night, she noticed her vision became blurry at times.
"Rhiannon. Are you quite yourself?" Meridwyn asked.
"Yes. Just that you seem a little blurred all of a sudden." Rhiannon muttered.
Meridwyn suddenly noticed that Rhiannon's pupils seemed awfully large considering they were seated outside. It was a fairly sunny day. They should have been much smaller!
"You're certain?" Meridwyn asked again.
"Yes. I'm fine, my friend." Rhiannon reassured. "Though, I would surely love a large goblet of water at the moment. I'm so thirsty lately, Meridwyn. It's very strange."
"Indeed. I'll say it's strange." Meridwyn commented.
"So you're telling me that you have not seen Sir Guy?" Rhiannon asked her again.
"Indeed. That is correct. I haven't seen him because he has not yet returned." Meridwyn said.
"My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Mortianna thinks it's because I'm not sleeping very well." Rhiannon remarked carelessly.
"Mortianna?" Meridwyn prodded.
"Yes. Uhh…I spoke to her early today. She recommends I come to see her tonight for a cup of batwing tea. She says it might help me to sleep better." Rhiannon explained.
"Indeed. You would have to mention the tea, wouldn't you?" Meridwyn sighed. "I can't believe how much I desire that stuff. Ever since I found out I was with child."
"And I can't believe how much I'm craving…water." Rhiannon sighed.
