I know, I know...it's been a while, and I apologize, but is anyone even reading this story anymore? I had a barrage of electronics issues that prevented me from writing and that also threw me for an emotional and financial loop. I don't foresee such a thing happening again...but I didn't foresee it happening the first time either. Anyway, thank you to those who are still reading this story.
williewildcat: Meg will surprise in this chapter. Or not, if you've seen the show.
partygirl98: Ah yes, Ajsa's husband. More on him later. Believe me, Guy is as curious about him as you are. P.S. There's still a whole lot he doesn't know about Ajsa...
Chapter 20: Sacrifice
Avoiding Isabella while she was planning Guy's execution was not difficult for Meg and Ajsa. She was nearly always surrounded by servants and guards, allowing the two women to set their own scheme into motion. With the pretense of delivering food to the prisoner, Ajsa sent Meg to the dungeons to inform Gisborne of their plot. When it began, he would need to be ready.
In the meantime, Ajsa poured a few drops of Isabella's valerian root extract into the jailor's mead and made her way to the dungeons.
"A little refreshment," she said, handing the goblet to the prison guard. "Courtesy of the Sheriff."
The man took the proffered cup, staring at its contents but not drinking them. He raised a skeptical brow.
"Why's she bein' so gen'rous?"
"Because she is a different kind of Sheriff," Ajsa replied. "She wishes to restore fairness and justice to Nottingham, and being fair to her hirelings is part of that. It would be a grave offense if you were to reject her generosity."
"All righ', don' get yer kir'le in a twist," huffed the guard. "I'll drink it." With a final glance at the mead, he brought the goblet to his lips and took a long swig. "Well, I'll be damned," he exclaimed, "it's the good stuff."
"It most certainly is," she murmured, meeting Guy's gaze for a split-second. She curtseyed to the guard and ascended the steps, but remained within earshot of the dungeons.
The valerian would take effect in about five minutes, a few minutes longer if the jailor had recently eaten. Nevertheless, Ajsa calculated that Gisborne would be out of the castle before Isabella even became aware of their deception. All that needed to be done now was for Meg to steal the prison keys. Ajsa waited impatiently, ducking into a nearby storeroom whenever someone came down the corridor.
Ten minutes later, Meg appeared around the corner, key ring in hand.
"Did you encounter any problems?" Ajsa asked.
"None at all," Meg replied, with a grin. "Isabella was too preoccupied with her letter to the prince to pay much attention to anything else. Is the guard asleep?"
The healer nodded. "I heard him complaining about feeling drowsy, before everything went silent."
She led Meg down the stairs, and, true to her word, the jailor was slumped against the wall, unconscious. To make absolutely sure, however, Ajsa kicked first his foot, and then his knee. He did not stir.
Meg unlocked Gisborne's cell, smiling up at him in triumph.
"You both took a great risk in doing this," he said. "But I am grateful." He briefly stroked Meg's cheek and went to Ajsa, hugging her tightly to him. She returned his embrace with equal fervor.
"Well, this is touching," drawled Isabella.
Ajsa pulled away from Guy, wincing at the loss of contact. She felt exposed beneath Isabella's hard, icy glare. For an agonizing moment, no one dared to move, then suddenly, Gisborne pushed Meg and Ajsa forward. They ran for the stairs, but Isabella grabbed Meg, while the soldiers detained Guy and Ajsa.
"They didn't know what they were doing!" he shouted, in defense of his liberators.
"Yes, they did," Isabella retorted angrily. "How could you?" she accused them, her gaze flicking between Meg and Ajsa. The healer felt a pang of guilt at the genuine hurt in Isabella's voice. "I set you free, and this is how you repay me?"
"We're not the same," argued Meg. "Ajsa and I try to do things out of love. You're doing this out of hate."
"How dare you?" Isabella shrieked. "I suppose I should be grateful, because now I know that the only person I can trust is myself. I'm on my own!" She shoved Meg towards the guards and approached the healer. "And if you two lovebirds want to be together," she said, smiling cruelly at Guy and Ajsa, "that's fine, you shall. You'll all die."
Ajsa felt her knees go weak as she was pushed roughly up the stairs. In her haste to climb them, she tripped on her dress and hit her shins against the stone. She winced, feeling the bone already starting to bruise. Her captor pulled her up, and when she glanced back at Gisborne, he was seething in anger. He tried to break free, but there were two soldiers on him, each with a sword pointed at his neck. In front of her, Meg whimpered. Ajsa nearly echoed it.
The closer to the square they were led, the more terrified she became. Their arrival was heralded by the rolling beat of drums, and when Guy emerged from the castle, the townsfolk made their hatred for him known. Meg's breathing was strained and shaky.
"I'm scared," she whispered.
"When it comes, it'll be very quick," Gisborne informed her. It was of little comfort, but what comfort could possibly mitigate the fear of impending death?
He glanced at Ajsa, his heart aching for her. She had endured so many hardships, had even survived slavery. Yet they had all been for naught, because her future was about to be robbed from her. There were many things he wanted to say to her, many confessions he wanted to entrust in her, but he could not bring himself to utter them in such a public and unforgiving place. So he just watched her, drinking her in with the desperation of a parched man discovering an oasis.
Although Meg noticed Guy's reverent gaze directed at the healer, Ajsa did not. As she scanned the crowd, a pair of bright, blue eyes caught her attention. Her mouth opened on a gasp, and Allan looked equally surprised to see her.
But she was not afforded an opportunity to communicate with him, for their guards were leading them up to the scaffold, where three tree stumps awaited.
"As you all know from bitter experience, Guy of Gisborne is an enemy of the people. He must pay the ultimate penalty. These women," said Isabella, indicating Meg and Ajsa, "tried to help him escape justice. Therefore, they must share his fate. In the future, if anyone challenges my authority, they shall suffer the same punishment." She sat down and observed the three prisoners with a cruel, haughty expression. "Have the condemned any final words?"
"Very well, Isabella, you win," said Gisborne. "Kill me, if you must, but not them. I'll do whatever you want, but don't take their life," he pleaded.
His sister was unmoved. "Proceed with the executions," she commanded.
"They're just innocent girls," cried Guy, as a soldier forced him to kneel.
Meg and Ajsa were similarly manhandled, and their heads were positioned on the chopping block. When the guards swept their hair to the side to reveal the backs of their necks, Ajsa could barely control herself. Tears welled in her eyes, and she felt sick to her stomach. Beside her, Meg was beginning to hyperventilate.
But the executioner's blow never came. Ajsa dared to peer up and glimpsed an arrow protruding from the man's chest, before he tumbled from the scaffold. The ax landed dangerously close to Gisborne's head, yet they were all three of them alive, thanks to Robin Hood.
In the chaos that ensued, Guy wasted no time in freeing himself and his companions. They were almost to safety, when a soldier rushed towards them with a halberd aimed at Gisborne. Ajsa shouted a warning, but Meg was quicker. The healer watched in horror as Meg stepped in front of Guy and the weapon pierced her abdomen.
"Meg, no!" screamed Ajsa. She supported the younger woman as she stumbled back, and then Gisborne hoisted her into his arms. Pressing a hand to her wound, Ajsa said, "We need to take her somewhere quiet so that I can tend to her. But be careful, you must not jostle her."
During their escape from the castle, Ajsa kept a close eye on Meg. The pressure on her abdomen slowed the blood loss, but she was growing paler and weaker by the second. Ajsa feared an organ had ruptured, perhaps her liver or small intestine. And if that was the case, there was no hope for Meg.
They took refuge in the forest, next to a small pond. Guy rested Meg against a tree, while Ajsa tore the girl's dress to expose the wound. It was deep, much too deep for Ajsa to stitch, and the worst of the damage lay beyond her reach. She tried to hide her worry, but Meg sensed it.
"It's a lost cause, isn't it?"
Ajsa looked at her, saw the pain and sadness contorting her pretty features. She considered lying to her, if only to ease some of the fear, but she recalled a promise she had once made, a long time ago. Never lie to a dying man.
"Y-yes," she said, choking on her grief. "There is internal bleeding, which I cannot mend."
Meg nodded, surprising both Guy and Ajsa with her courage. "I'm glad to have known you, Ajsa, even if only for a short time. I think we could have been great friends."
The tears started to fall, dropping onto Meg's cheek, as Ajsa leaned forward to kiss her forehead. She stroked her hair, offering the girl what little comfort she could.
"I think so, too," she replied softly. "I will never forget your bravery and spirit."
"May I-" said Meg, struggling to form the words. "May I have a moment with Sir Guy? I would like to know...what it's like."
Gisborne furrowed his brows, but Ajsa, understanding, whispered in his ear and stepped back to give them some privacy. She watched as he gathered Meg into his arms and kissed her gently on the lips. When he hugged her body to his, Ajsa knew that the girl was dead. She had witnessed countless deaths, but seeing Guy's reaction made Meg's all the more poignant. Embracing him from behind, Ajsa cradled Meg's head in one hand and Gisborne's in the other, sobbing into the nape of his neck.
The trees, silent and still, stood as sentinels, while the two figures mourned their mutual loss.