016. Criminal

It was the middle of the night and as Tomoyo navigated the alleyways of the lower section of the city, the only light she could rely on was the faint moonlight that shone from above. Dividing and depositing that day's loot among the poorest families in that area, Tomoyo smiled to herself as she imagined their delighted shouts the next morning. Just then, the door to a nearby tavern swung open, flooding the middle of the street with firelight and Tomoyo quickly jumped onto the roof to avoid being seen.

A few drunk patrons tumbled out of the tavern, clutching on to one another for support as they made their way home. From the roof, Tomoyo caught some snippets of their conversation.

"Did you hear about Hood?"

She smirked, she knew she was a favourite topic among the people.

"What about Hood?"

Tomoyo was about to leap onto the next roof when she froze.

"He's been captured! By Lord Albert. Apparently he tried to shoot an arrow at him during some party."

"By golly!"

"And guess what, he turned out to be Lord Eriol!"

"Hood?"

"Yes! Imagine that! A nobleman!"

"I always knew I liked Lord Eriol."

"But now he's going to be executed surely! Lord Albert is determined to get rid of him."

Tomoyo almost let out a gasp. How did that happen? An innocent man has been jailed! And from the sound of it, was to be executed! Cursing Lord Albert, Tomoyo hastened her way back to the castle. She needed to plan.

xxx

Eriol sighed as he attempted to fluff up some hay for his bed. The conditions in the jail was appalling! But he was in jail after all, he couldn't really expect himself to be comfortable. He had been quite unceremoniously thrown in here for two days already and received no word so far from either Syaoran or Lord Albert.

He really should have listened to Syaoran when he warned him of Lord Albert. The man was a lot more ambitious than he thought. Eriol hated politics, and so despite being born into a noble house, did his best to stay away from it. Yet, his family's reputation and wealth made it difficult for him to remain on the sidelines. He should have known Lord Albert would have seen him as a threat, especially as he remained one of the leading nobles loyal to the royal family. Shaking his head in an attempt to clear it of his depressing thoughts, Eriol sighed again.

So all in all, there is nothing amusing about being in jail, but when your guards start tumbling down the stairs, it is probably alright to chuckle.

Eriol half expected to see Syaoran barrelling down after the guards, waving his sword and being all heroic as he attempted to rescue his Lord from the horrible dungeon, but the figure that appeared at the top of the stairs was not that of Syaoran. Or of anyone else he recognised because the figure wore a hood over his head.

Fancy that, the real Hood has come to rescue him!

The figure strode down the stairs and walked over the guards at the bottom, who appeared to have been knocked out. Taking the keys from one of the guards' pockets, Hood straightened up and walked closer to Eriol's cell.

"Ah, the elusive Hood."

Hood was right in front of Eriol now and barely acknowledged Eriol's greeting. Eriol's eyes widened as he took in the figure in front of him. Although Hood hasn't spoken, and kept the hood firmly on, obscuring any facial features, the slight figure and feminine hands alert Eriol to Hood's real gender.

The doors swung open easily with the key but Eriol stayed steadfastly in his cell.

Hood tilted her head to the side and stepped away, as if beckoning Eriol to exit.

Eriol shook his head, "I'm afraid I cannot leave with you. Escaping prison is an offence punishable by beheading. Besides, an escape will only make it seem like I am indeed guilty."

A silent moment passed between them and Hood looked around, as if to ensure that they were indeed alone. Finally she spoke, "I've been told Lord Albert has plans to forge evidence to find you guilty, and then behead you anyway. You have to leave now."

Again, Eriol shook his head, "I will not leave. Doing so will only endanger the rest of my friends and family. Thank you for attempting a rescue. I'm sure my friends would be able to prove my innocence."

Hood let out an exasperated breath, but seemed to see the logic behind his words. "Very well Lord Eriol, I didn't want to have your death on my conscience. But since you're so adamant, I wish you luck."

She turned to leave, locking the cell door behind her and placing the key back into the guard's pocket.

"You are doing something great my Lady. Rest assured that if it comes to it, I am perfect happy to take the fall for you. It is an honour."

Hood turned her head and gave an imperceptible nod before she ascended the stairs. She would not be able to shake the feeling of Eriol's gaze on her back even long after she returned home.

xxx

Over the next few days, there was a spate of robberies reported by the nobles, all of them visited by Hood in the dead of night, who had made off with jewellery, antiques and valuable paintings, leaving only an arrow in their place.

It was as if Hood wanted to assure the people that he had not been captured, and that an innocent man was being jailed for crimes he did not commit.

A week after he was first thrown into jail, Eriol was brought to court in chains.

"Lord Eriol." Lord Albert greeted as the guards tried to force Eriol to kneel.

"Lord Albert." Eriol replied, stubbornly resisting the guards as they knocked him behind his knees. He was a Lord, and only knelt before his King.

"Leave him." Lord Albert said to the guards and waved them away as they stepped aside respectfully with a bow.

"I wasn't aware you became a judge Lord Albert." Eriol said as he eyed the nobleman in front of him. He spotted Syaoran who was looking murderous and surrounded by Lord Albert's personal guards. In attendance as well were some other noblemen he recognised who had already pledged their allegiance to Lord Albert.

For the first time, rather than apathy, Eriol felt truly sick about their betrayal.

"I did not think we required a judge when there is such overwhelming evidence to prove you are Hood, Lord Eriol." Lord Albert replied easily, smirking at the other nobles who obediently let out chuckles.

"Ah, but I heard that since I've been jailed, Hood had made an appearance or two. Surely you don't believe me to be able to leave my cell every night and then return again in the morning do you?"

Lord Albert's eyes narrowed, "You could easily have ordered your men to pretend to be Hood. After all, you said it yourself, that your knight Syaoran is just as capable as you are with a bow."

Eriol glared, "It seems that you have a ready explanation for everything Lord Albert."

"I do," Lord Albert replied, smiling now, "so it will be in your best interest to confess now."

"I am not guilty." Eriol asserted.

"Where were you at the time of my party?" Lord Albert asked, although he did it more for appearances' sake. He was quite determined to be rid of Lord Eriol by sundown.

"I was at home, as I have mentioned a dozen times before." Eriol replied evenly.

"And how can you prove this?" Some other nobles chimed in from the sidelines.

"My staff at home are my witnesses." Eriol said.

"Lord Eriol was indeed at home." Syaoran spoke up as he tried to step around Lord Albert's personal guards.

Lord Albert scoffed, "They are loyal to you. Why shouldn't they lie on your behalf?"

"You doubt my alibis, what more can I say?" Eriol replied, drawing himself straighter. He might be in chains, but he was going to be more dignified than any of the nobles present.

"That you are guilty." Lord Albert said, a feral smile on his face.

Eriol shook his head, and repeated, "I did not shoot that arrow. I was at home. During the party."

"Lord Eriol was not at home." A voice drifted from behind those assembled.

All eyes at court turned to face the new arrival.

Lord Albert eyes' widened, "Lady Tomoyo, what are you doing here?"

Tomoyo glided towards the centre of the court and stopped besides Eriol, "I have come to offer my testimony of course."

"Whatever for?" Lord Albert questioned, frowning as he stepped closer to Tomoyo.

Tomoyo raised her eyebrows and stared at Lord Albert in a rather disdainful manner, "Is this not a court? Are you not putting this man on trial? Is it not then customary for testimonies to be offered?"

Eriol noticed that Syaoran couldn't contain his smirk. Eriol was however too distracted by the lady beside him to remind him to lay low. She seemed strangely familiar.

"Lord Eriol was with me at the time of your party."

Eriol blinked and turned to stare at Lady Tomoyo. Was he? He thinks he would remember a night like that.

Lord Albert seemed taken aback. "And can anyone vouch for you?"

Tomoyo raised her chin, "We were alone."

"Alone? Without any guards? Surely not!" Lord Albert exclaimed just as the nobles present broke out in murmurings.

Ignoring the whispers, Tomoyo continued, "I did not see the need for any guards in my own bedchamber."

The murmurings now turned into full blown gasps.

Lord Albert's jaw dropped open, and in any other situation, Eriol would have made some smart comment about it, but at that moment, he was too busy making sure his jaw was not open in a similar fashion. "What...what were you doing in your bedchamber Lady Tomoyo?"

Arching an eyebrow, Tomoyo replied, "What do you think we were doing Lord Albert?"

Eriol had heard of Lady Tomoyo obviously. She was the King's niece after all, but he had never seen or met her before. Why would she lie for him? And at the expense of her own reputation as well! He was about to protest when he caught her eye and she shot him a look that froze him in his place. He knew he was to keep quiet.

"So Lord Albert, will you agree to let Lord Eriol go now?" Tomoyo asked, although it was clear what she expected his answer to be because she motioned for the guards to release Eriol's chains.

"But Lady Tomoyo..." Lord Albert sputtered, watching as the guards released Eriol's chains, "We are to be engaged!"

Tomoyo laughed disbelievingly, "I clearly recall turning down your proposal of marriage for the third time Lord Albert!"

Embarrassed and aware of the other nobles present, Lord Albert had no choice but to declare Eriol innocent.

"Locking up an innocent man with no concrete evidence and deciding on his fate arbitrarily without consulting with the King, the nerve of you! Be assured that I will be reporting this straight to my uncle." Tomoyo levelled a glare at the other nobles present, "And the King will surely be displeased at the turnout today."

With that threat hanging in the air, Tomoyo turned to leave and Eriol followed her out of the court, signalling for Syaoran to return back to the estate and wait for him there.

Tomoyo entered a waiting carriage and her footman beckoned Eriol in as well.

"I cannot thank you enough Lady Tomoyo." Eriol began as he sat down opposite her.

"There is no need for thanks," Tomoyo replied as the carriage lurched forward, "I believe we are even now." A small smile played at her lips.

Suddenly, it was as if something clicked in Eriol's mind, Lady Tomoyo was Hood! He silently marvelled at the delicate Lady in front of him, no one would have believed it even if he told them so. "But your reputation my Lady..."

Brushing away his worried comment, Tomoyo said, "No need to trouble yourself Lord Eriol, surely there can be no other offers of marriage from people like Lord Albert henceforth. I find myself rather glad for it."

"Still..." Eriol tried again to articulate his apology.

"Please Lord Eriol," Tomoyo held out a hand, "I would rather talk about other matters."

"Such as?" Eriol enquired, leaning forward.

"Such as," Tomoyo replied, "keeping my identity a secret."

Eriol nodded, "Of course my Lady." He had had no intention of revealing Hood anyway. He was sure no one would have believed him in any case.

Tomoyo rewarded him with a smile, "That is all I ask. Thank you."

They spent the remainder of the ride back to Eriol's estate in silence.

xxx

When he leaves the carriage, Tomoyo thinks it would be the last she'll see of him. As Eriol watches the carriage ride away, he knows that he wants to see her again.

xxx

And because Eriol always has his way, we will see vigilante!Tomoyo and nobleman!Eriol sometime again in the future. Please comment! I would love to hear what you think!