Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, nor do I profit from this writing.
Chapter 6: The Pitts
Eleanor was running ragged and the sun had only barely risen. With several servants out because of the disease in Pitt street, and a few more having their days off—including Gretchen—the ones left were facing a mountain of work to accomplish. "I'll take Marion for you," another girl offered as Eleanor placed a tray together for the sheriff.
"Thanks," she said quickly as she balanced the tray and pitcher of hot water up the stairs. The brief thought of perhaps she could overhear something useful for Allan entered her mind. She wondered why she cared about helping him.
She didn't have time to dwell on it, though, and pushed all thoughts of eavesdropping on the sheriff aside as she got the door open. She quickly put the fresh water next to his basin and set his tray down on his desk. She waited but he simply waved his hand to dismiss her.
She was thankful it was quick. Everyone dreaded waiting on the sheriff.
"I wish you could come," Gretchen said as she tied her cape on. "I feel dreadful for leaving you with all this going on. Promise me you will stay away from Pitt street," she pleaded. "I hate the idea I am leaving and you may catch the pestilence."
"I'll be fine, you just enjoy your day away from this," Eleanor said giving her a quick hug as she went back to kneading bread.
"That I will," Gretchen grinned. She was heading towards the door when Henrietta, the girl who had gone up to wait on Marion, called for them. "Are you still leaving, Gretchen?" she whispered. Gretchen nodded, confused. "Perfect. Lady Marion is going to sneak out with you, is that alright?"
They knew if they were caught sneaking Marion out it would be their necks swinging from the gallows. Gretchen and Eleanor shared a look. "Alright, is she ready to leave now?" Henrietta nodded and she saw Marion in the shadows of the staircase.
Gretchen found a few other women also leaving and the three of them walked out the gates with Marion creeping behind them. "Marion wishes to help those on Pitt street," Henrietta whispered to Eleanor. "You know her father the sheriff has locked away? I hear he hasn't been feeding him, either," she whispered.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow in shock. She really shouldn't have been surprised after living in the castle for so long. "How is the soup?"
"Nearly done. How is the bread?"
"I have some ready here," Eleanor said as she laid out the settings for the midday meal, a plan running through her head. She laid out the loaves of bread, setting one to the side. As she sliced the bread, she dug a hollow bowl inside the spare one and set the top back on. She then dipped out the soup into the bowls. She glanced to make sure no one was looking and she ladled some of the soup into the bowl in the bread. She quickly placed the top back on the bread hoping if anyone glanced at it it looked normal.
Henrietta and another servant came to take away the platters with the lunch. Her heart was racing but she was thankful she gave no outward indication of the fact she was planning something.
Placing the loaf on a napkin with a spoon, she wrapped the bundle up. She placed it on the platter to be carried down to the guards in the dungeon. In all the confusion of to few workers no one noticed her taking the odd job.
She made her way down to the dungeon. She rarely was down in the dark, dank place. The last time had been when she met Allan, she realized. She placed the tray down and watched the guards dig in. "This is for Sir Edward," she said.
"The sheriff says he ain't to get any food until his daughter knows her place," one of the guards said.
"He says the lady Marion is beginning to learn her place, to give the old fart this meager bread before he keels over on us," Eleanor lied hoping it would sound like something the sheriff would say. Before the guard could question it she headed towards the cell, glad she didn't have to walk long down the hall.
"Tell the sheriff I don't care for what's on his table," Sir Edward said.
"This isn't from the sheriff's table, my lord," Eleanor whispered. She gently placed it through the bars and made her way back out before the guards thought she was tarrying.
She was walking back towards the kitchen to help clean it up and start preparations for the evening meal when she saw Allan out of the corner of her eye. "Why were you in the dungeon?" he asked worriedly.
"Sir Edward needed to be fed," she whispered, looking to make sure no one heard them. "Why? I thought Robin and his men were in Pitt street?"
Allan sighed and ran his hands through hair. "Everything is just gone mad," he said. "That was Will's father the sheriff killed this morning," he said. "And Will and his brother are both half-mad with grief right now. And on top that I … I am waiting to meet Guy."
"More secrets?" she asked, her hands crossed over her chest. "When is this going to stop, Allan? You will eventually run out of secrets and then what use to Guy will you be?"
"Don't you think I have thought about this?" he asked. "All I can do is think about this. About how this hurts Robin, me, the guys. Even you. I would never get them hurt, never anything like that," he explained. "But I can't quit, yet."
"And when is a good time to quit? When you tell one secret to many and give up Robin? Or when he finds out?" she stormed back to the castle. "I don't have time for another one of these conversations, Allan. With everything going on we are shorthanded."
"Eleanor," He called out. "Just… be careful, alright?" she walked inside without turning around. He rushed up to catch up with her at the threshold. "I mean it; Guy might suspect something…" He saw terror in her eyes at that announcement but instead of cowering she straightened her spine.
"Worry about your own neck, Allan. It's what you are good at. Besides, I can handle whatever Guy throws at me, I've suffered worse," she spat out as she stormed inside.
Why did she let him aggravate her so? She normally stayed as far away as possible from any male. She certainly never attempted to befriend one. She had never met one worth befriending, after all ….
No, don't think about him. Do not give him any more power over you. Gretchen would tell you that if she was here she lectured herself. She put her frustration and confusion into kneading bread.
It was an hour later or so when she was checking on the bread in the oven when she heard, "Eleanor, when you have finished there, go to the third floor corridor and change the sheets," Griswald decided. She had never seen Griswald frazzled, but today was the closest she had ever been with half of her force missing.
It was a few minutes more before she the bread was ready to be cooled. She washed her hands and made her way upstairs. Something caught her eye and she took a look out the window. She saw Allan and the one she guessed was John running along the outside corridor as if looking for someone.
She fetched the clean sheets and heard knocking from a door further down the hall. Raising an eyebrow she walked over to the door. "Who's there?"
"Please, let me out," a foreign voice asked.
It was a woman and she had a foreign accent. If Eleanor didn't know better she would guess it was Robin's Saracen—what was her name, Jack? She unbolted the door and swung it open. She raised an eyebrow when the door opened to reveal Djaq in one of the closets. "Thank you."
"Well, it looks like you could use all the help you can get," she deadpanned. Especially if they got locked up in useless old closets. Will came rushing around the corner, surprised to see Djaq out. "I'll just be off, then," Eleanor excused herself, shaking her head.
"She thinks I got lost and locked myself in the closet or something," Djaq said surprised. "Surely she doesn't think I am that…"
"Djaq, the antidote," Will asked. She looked at him wearily. "Robin took the poison, and the sheriff is poisoned too." Djaq's eyes widened in horror and they sped their way in the opposite direction of Eleanor.
Huge thanks to PetiteDiablo for another great review!
To the hundreds of others who are reading, please review! (Even 'update soon' is appreciated! ^_^). I still have a poll open in my profile that will affect this story. Should Marion die at the end of the season? if you would rather tell me in a review, that is fine, too!