I jumped awake when bells started going off somewhere in the castle. I slowly pushed myself up, resting against the headboard.
"My Lady, you should still rest," I looked to the side and saw a servant that was around my age. "Here's some water," she handed me a chalice.
"Thank you," I slowly took a sip, "what is you name?"
"Mae, my lady," I gave her a soft smile.
"How long have you been working here, Mae?" I asked her.
"Seven years, my lady."
"Mae, it's Sable, not my lady or any of that, the exception is when I'm around the Sheriff, understand?" she nodded quickly. I took another sip of water. "Do you know what the bells are about?"
"Robin Hood, he robbed the sheriff, I heard the guards talking about it, apparently he tried to do it before but failed," she spoke with ease and confidence.
"I suppose I should have known that," I said, feeling rather stupid. Mae let out a soft giggle at my remark. I heard the sheriff storming through the hallways, screaming at Guy. "You might want to leave," I told her. She nodded then rushed out the door. Moments later Vaisey entered with Guy in toll. I saw Guy glare at me as he and the sheriff were talking about the tax collections that were supposed to start tomorrow. I finished off the glass of water that Mae had given me and settled down again in the bed, waiting for Gisborne to leave.
I waited an hour and he still hadn't left. Another half hour passed and they were still talking. Another fifteen minutes passed and Vaisey was just sitting there, looking at the paperwork and Gisborne stood, watching him. Sleep started to capture me in its grasp as I struggled to stay awake. At last, I finally watched Guy leave the room and Vaisey made his way to me.
"Finally," I yawned showing my tiredness. I smiled as he slipped in next to me. I quickly slipped into a peaceful sleep with Vaisey next to me.
"How are you feeling?" I had been up for a while but still sat in bed with Vaisey.
"Maybe you and Marian were right, could you call a physician for me?" He nodded and crawled out of bed and quickly changed.
"I'll send for him, however, I will be at Locksley today."
"Thank you," I was still surprised about what he did: He helped me sit up against the pillows that he moved against the headboard. I smiled at him and brought my hand to rest on his face. I leaned up, kissing him on the lips, "I'll tell you what the physician says, tonight," I whisper and let go of his face. I watch as he heads for the door and leaves.
"Congratulations, my lady, you are with babe," the physician congratulated me. "Here are some herbs that you should take with water daily, it should help with the morning sickness." I nodded as he set the herbs on the bedside table. "I'll come back in a week's time to check on you."
"Thank you," he nodded and left. "With babe?" I whispered to myself, looking down at my stomach, running my hand up and down it. I knew this would be a blessing and a curse. It meant that I was not seriously ill so I could walk around and venture out, but it also meant I had to tell Vaisey, a man who hated children.
I stood up and slipped on a dress, followed by a cloak, planning to go riding for a while. I walked out the door easily but when I went to retrieve my horse I was blocked by guards.
"You are not allowed outside the castle, my lady," one of the guards spoke up.
"Really, Vaisey?" I scowled and muttered annoyed. I turned around and went back to the room.
"How are you feeling?" I jumped at the voice and turned to see Mae.
"As well as should be expected, I suppose," I let out a sigh, "Mae, would you mind running me a bath?"
"Of course not, it seems like it might help," she turned and left the room.
Later that night, I was resting in bed.
"What did the physician say?" that was the first thing that came from Vaisey's mouth as he walked into the room.
"He, he said that," I paused as I stumbled over my words, "that I am with babe." I looked at his shocked face, waiting for it to turn into anger. It never did, however, I could not read his reaction. He simply got into bed, brought me close to him, and we both fell asleep.
The next morning, Vaisey was heading back to Locksley to execute an exchange with Robin. While he was gone, I found myself meandering through the castle and out into the town, a guard following me. I watched as people went on with their daily lives, managing to live and try to thrive despite the sheriff's taxes.
"My Lady, we should be getting back," the guard told me as we watched the sheriff's horses come through the town. I nodded and we quickly made our way back to the castle.
"Marian, what's wrong?" I asked when I saw her.
"My father, he's going to put him in the dungeon," she told me, "all because I protected Robin and Guy. I heard that you saw a physician, what was the problem?"
"Marian, I'm pregnant, that is why I have been sick."
She looked at me, "Does the sheriff know?" I nodded, as we walked to her room. "And?"
"I have no idea, he didn't say anything at all last night when he found out." We walked into her room. After an hour of mindless chatter, I excused myself, saying I was tired and would see her in the morning.
A couple days had passed since that day, and I found myself spending most of my time with Marian. Today, she was trying to visit her father again, and I sat on a ledge overlooking the main courtyard, waiting for her.
"Please, Sir Guy," I heard Marian say. I jumped off the edge and walked over to where she, Guy, and Vaisey were all talking.
"Maybe you read this announcement and we will see about getting Daddy some dinner."
"You mean you haven't fed him?" Vaisey and Guy walked off, "Sheriff!" Marian and I followed them, exchanging a look.
As Marian made the announcement outside the castle, a voice shouted, "What, there's young ones suffering. They can't be cut off with nothing."
"To do so will risk spreading the infection and will be punished with death," Marian read. I was shocked and sent a glare at Vaisey, who was smiling.
He stepped up, "Now, you may hear cries for help, pleas of mercy, we need medicine, help me. Help me! Word of advice," he put his hands to his ears, insinuating that they should just be ignored.
"Sheriff, this is not what they have! I've seen the pestilence in Scarborough, they need food, water and medicine!" It was Dan, I smiled at seeing him again, but knew that the Sheriff was mad.
"Shut up!" Vaisey shouted at Dan.
"No, I've shut up for you before and its cost me my wife, my hand, and the respect of my sons!" Just then a guard went and stabbed him.
I ran towards him, when I reached him, I sat and grabbed his head, placing it in my lap. "Why did you do that Dan?" I asked as tears flowed through my eyes, "Now I have truly lost my father." Guards came trying to pick up his body, but I fought back, hanging onto him as his life slowly left the earth. "No!" I was crying harder as guards tried to separate the two of us. I felt the sheriff come and grab my arm, forcing me to stand and dragged me away from Dan's body, which the two guards quickly dragged away.
Sobs still racked my body as I was dragged back to the castle and to the room by the sheriff. "Why did you kill him? He was a father to me when I had none."
"You will stay in this room! Food and drink will be brought in here for you. And I will hear nothing more about this!" He yelled in my face, throwing me onto the bed. The tears subsided as I forced myself up.
"No! He was the one who cared for me after the death of my father, and especially after Robin left for the Holy Land. I'm done listening to you plotting your schemes for power and wealth!" I stood up, facing him, "To think I started caring for you, looking past all the bad,"
"That was the mistake then," he said, turning away from me.
He left the room for a brief time, letting me mourn in silence for Dan. Later, he had returned.
"So what is going to happen?" I asked him, "To me, to the babe when it is born?"
"It depends on if you will obey me or not, hmm?" his reply came as the door opened and a man walked in.
"Ah, success with the pitiful Pit Street?"
"Yes, even the ones that hardly touched the food are in agony, and those who had the full dose have begun to die, as I predicted." They left the room to talk.
"You! Can you bring this into the sheriff's chamber, its the food for his wife," I heard outside in the hallway. Soon the door opened and the servant brought in the food and wine.
"You can set it by the bed, thank you," I told the servant, looking at the mirror. My eyes were red and puffy from the tears. I heard the door closed and went and sat down on the bed looking at the soup, bread, and red wine. I sighed, pouring myself a glass of the wine and took a sip. I was halfway through my meal when I started to feel sick.