Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood or profit from this writing. Plot and OCs belongs to me.
The chapter everyone has been wondering about! A little twist as we get a glimpse of what happened to Eleanor during the past year...
Chapter 23: Sticks and Stones
They were all cloaked and scattered throughout Nottingham the following day, this time Will and Allan going inside the castle with Tuck as the other outlaws (except Marion) found places inside the square to hide. Tuck's voice boomed and echoed off the rafters to the annoyance of the sheriff.
"Hood has been making deliveries to all the villages," Gisborne confirmed Tuck's claim. "He has returned."
"Then let him know we have the girl," the sheriff said. "If you want her out of the dungeons, get word to Robin," he told Tuck.
"I have been spreading the word to all the villages, and yet he still does not come," Tuck argued. "Release her to me."
"Why do you want her so badly? Hm?"
"I look after innocents."
"Gisborne, take them out. I think it is time we see what this fuss is about," Vaysey said leading the way out. Guards had been sent to fetch Eleanor. She blinked and squinted, seeing the sun for the first time in days.
"People! I ask you where you Hood is now," the sheriff bellowed. "This young woman most of you may remember after all these months. She has been found of the same crime and I offer her up to you for the same justice you attempted to met out against her months ago."
Eleanor shied backwards at that announcement. Allan nearly reached out to comfort her, let her know he was there, but Will shook his head.
Tuck was furious. "You would subject this innocent woman to such torture!" his voice boomed out, drawing all ears. "No stones will be cast today."
Stones? The outlaws repeated. They were going to stone Eleanor? What on earth for?
"My lord," Gisborne spoke softly. "I have a better use for her."
"Yes, well, warming your bed as you mourn your loss isn't as entertaining for me," the sheriff drawled.
"That is absurd. But why kill her?"
"Ah, and this is the main crux of the problem for you isn't it Gizzy. Have you lost your taste for blood?" Vaysey quipped.
Gisborne glared at him. "I am beginning to realize how much I despise you."
"Such sweet words, do you think they will change my mind?"
"Guards," Gisborne called out. "Chain her, lead her to Locksley," he ordered.
"Yes, lets carry this show to Locksley," the sheriff agreed.
Eleanor prayed that at least they wouldn't try to stone her in Locksley. She looked at Tuck fearfully as the guards pulled her along. He tried to give her a reassuring look.
The outlaws ran ahead as Will and Allan followed Guy with Tuck. "What is going on?" Allan demanded Tuck. "Why would they stone her?"
"They tried to stone her, which is why she fled Nottingham," Tuck said. "I can not tell you more, it would breach her confession."
"Nora is the least likely person to get into any trouble," Allan argued. "What happened?"
"Let us save her, she can explain everything herself," Tuck said marching on.
"She has a lot to explain," Allan muttered.
They jerked her to stand before the manor house. "Well? Still no Hood?" the sheriff called out. "This is getting tiresome."
"My lord, no one is coming for me," Eleanor insisted.
The sheriff backhand her for talking back when Tuck bellowed, making the sheriff sigh. "Sheriff! What will it take to prove to you this woman is innocent?"
"Innocent is hardly the word associated with her," Vaysey clucked.
"Hood and his men have not shown themselves by now, show mercy on this poor woman and God will surely reward you."
Gretchen set Ygrainne inside and rushed out to the square, terrified at seeing Eleanor in chains. A guard wrapped an arm around Eleanor's neck keeping her in place as they waited to see what the sheriff would decide.
"La di-da-di-da," the sheriff drawled. "Well, stoning would certainly be a change of pace but hanging is just as efficient."
Eleanor tried to struggle against the guard but an arrow flew over her shoulder, killing him. He fell forward bring Eleanor down with him. "Ah! Hood! Get him!" the sheriff yelled.
The outlaws, except Marion, were revealed as they fought or led the guards away. Eleanor tried to push the dead man off of her, surprised she even managed to budge him since he was wearing chain mail. She was struggling when Gisborne pulled her up and out from under the dead weight. "Hold still," he ordered. She was too terrified to do anything else.
When the manacles were taken off she was surprised. "Elle?" Greta called out, rushing up to her as Tuck joined her.
"Your mercy will not be unrewarded," Tuck told Gisborne.
"Just pray the demons leave me be," Gisborne said. "Stay out of Nottingham." He went after the sheriff who was fetching his horse to ride after the outlaws.
She didn't need to be told that. Greta led her to her cottage when they were stopped by the outlaws. "Nora? Are you alright?" Allan asked quickly.
She nodded. "Thank you."
"It's what we do," Robin grinned. He looked at Allan, and gave a signal to the rest of the gang.
"Tom is inside," Greta whispered to Eleanor.
"Can we talk?" Allan asked.
"The only thing I have to say is thank you."
"What the bloody hell is going on, Nora? They were ready to stone you, and it sounded like they tried before. What the hell is going on? What aren't you telling me? And who the bloody hell is Tom?"
He saw Eleanor's spine straighten. "You were gone a year, Allan. A year! And if you had only been gone another week I would have been safely on my way to London with Tom! A lot has changed. You are back with Robin, I congratulate you for that. I knew it would happen. I am glad for you, but now just go," she said, storming inside Gretchen's cottage.
"Are you alright?" Gretchen asked her quickly, checking her wrists which were bruised from the manacles.
"He is here?" Eleanor asked quickly. Gretchen nodded towards the bedroom and she saw the basket on the bed. She rushed inside and saw Tom was sleeping peacefully. "He is probably going to want to be fed," Gretchen said as Tom stirred awake.
Eleanor wiped her eyes, so relieved to see Tom well. Not knowing had been the worse punishment, the sheriff couldn't have been crueler if he had planned it himself. Gretchen left Eleanor to be with her son as she undid the buttons on her dress to feed him.
Allan paced in front of the cottage. Eleanor could anger him like no other. The thought brought a grin to his face. Hadn't he admitted that to everyone during Djaq's game? He was going to fight for her. Whoever the hell Tom was certainly wasn't good for her.
He stormed inside Gretchen's cottage and found Gretchen feeding Ygrainne her midday meal. She looked shocked and horrified at seeing Allan storm into her bedroom.
Eleanor's back was to him. "Nora," he said. She jumped, startled, as she turned, which upset the baby nursing at her breast.
Baby?! He looked back and forth between the baby and Eleanor, horrified. Everything just stopped; he just turned and rushed back out of the cottage.
She rocked Tom who happily went back to feeding. Eleanor sat numbly on the bed as Gretchen came in. "Elle… I am so sorry."
"Why am I being punished? For a year now I have had nothing but punishments thrown at me. When will it end?" Eleanor muttered. "Is it so wrong that I want to have a single moment in my life that isn't torturous?"
"He was shocked, Elle. I mean, he had no idea to expect Tom."
"I wish I hadn't given his money to Tuck. It would get me to London," Eleanor mumbled. "Now what am I to do?"
"Stay with me, where you should have been this whole time. I need help, Eleanor."
"I can't give you that kind of help," Eleanor said sadly. "Robin would be best suited for that."
"I can't ask Robin to protect me, he has no reason to. I don't even have any association with any of his men," Gretchen pointed out. "But with two of us here, especially with two children…"
Eleanor snorted. "Yes, that is intimidating. Two lone women with children."
Gretchen stomped the floor in frustration. "I don't know what else to do, Elle. But you are staying with me," she said firmly leaving her and Tom.
Eleanor gently burped Tom and simply held him, humming. "I missed you, love," she whispered as she kissed his forehead.
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Allan ran until he couldn't run anymore. He couldn't run away from this, that was for certain. Maybe it wasn't what it looked like he tried to rationalize.
How is it not what it looked like? he demanded, realizing he was arguing with himself.
Rage, confusion, betrayal all wage inside him as he caught his breath. He wasn't sure if he was more terrified the child was his, or more angry at the thought it was someone else's. He heard his name being called in the distance but didn't answer. He didn't know how to handle any of this, let alone having the gang involved.
"There you are, son," Tuck's voice said. "Your friends have been looking for you."
No sooner had he finished then Allan's fist came up and knocked him to the ground. "Allan, have you gone mad?" Will asked as Much profusely apologized to the man of God, fearful they would all be cursed with a plague or blight.
"No, it's alright. He gets one," Tuck said. "Only one," he told Allan. "Man of God or not, I won't turn my cheek again."
"What is wrong with you?" Marion asked. "Eleanor is safe, right?"
"You knew, the entire time…" Allan fumed.
"I can not betray her confession," Tuck said steadfastly. He was making no apologies; if anything, he was waiting for Allan to make an apology.
"I'm not being funny, but this goes a bit beyond a confession, Tuck," Allan spat out.
"What is going on?" Robin asked confused.
"Not a word," Allan threatened, running off again. He wouldn't have them thinking anything of Nora until he talked to her. He just wasn't sure he could talk to her just yet.
Well, Allan finally knows ^_^ I wasn't planning on updating this quickly, but I updated another story today so I thought I would put this one up and let some people out of their misery. We will see more of our mystery woman for Guy (although I know a few have already guessed at it...) in 3 chapters.
Thanks to Lady de Winter (Thanks! I thought it made an ironic twist. it was fun to write ^_^) GizzysGirl (Thank you so much!!) House of Nickel (I've used Tuck before, and each time he takes on a new personality. I love this version of him, even if he has a small part. I envisioned a larger role for him, so I have all this backstory for him. I'm going to try to fit it in somewhere...) Katieee (Allan didn't talk to her in the dungeons because they didn't have complete privacy. he didn't want to risk anyone seeing him, or how Eleanor would react. Plus, he was learning a lot more disguised than if Eleanor knew he was really there ^_~ Marion was playing on the guilt Guy was feeling over her 'death'. it was petty, but it was something she could do to help. And yes, Guy is swoon-able (I might have invented a word...)) CrazyLilReadHead (I loved dragging out the Tom mystery, poor Allan, but alas he had to find out soon. Thanks!)