Sir Guy of Gisborne stood on the balcony overlooking the Village Square with the Bishop of Hereford, some of the Barons, a few local dignitaries, and naturally – Lady Gisborne. He was puzzled by his cousin's absence. It was already high noon. He was torn between going to look for him and taking over in his stead. He chose the latter, deciding the first option may be viewed as sign of weakness – that the Sheriff was unreliable.

"Where is he?" The Bishop whispered to Guy urgently.

"I'm sure he just got held up with another matter. He will be here. Do not worry. In the meantime, I'll get things underway for him." Guy said to placate him.

It was another gloomy day in Nottingham for a hanging. The rain had just begun. The crowd below was dressed all in black as they had done at the last hanging in the Village Square, just a little over a month ago. Torches blazed in the courtyard and threatened to extinguish as the rain increased. The people gave a roar to indicate their impatience at waiting for the prisoners.

The Sheriff's Lieutenant stepped forward to the parapet and raised a hand to silence them. He nodded down below to the guards.

"Bring the prisoners out!" Gisborne ordered them.

The drummers began tapping their drums. The portcullis lifted. Robert looked to his left at his Lady Isabelle. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Robert." She whispered.

"It will be alright. It shall be quick." He attempted to soothe.

The guards led them to the scaffold.

Gisborne tapped his boot impatiently with his arms folded.

"Where do you suppose he is?" Lady Meridwyn asked quietly.

"I do not know. But this is certainly puzzling. I shall have to do this without him!" He spat.

"Is that… the Sheriff running out toward the scaffold down there?" The Bishop of Hereford asked incredulous while he pointed at the scene below.

The people gathered on the balcony suddenly let out a moan and rushed past Guy closer toward the parapet to get a better look at the drama unfolding in the courtyard. Guy looked down. His jaw flew agape. Down below in the courtyard, his cousin was rushing up the wooden stairs of the scaffold. The prisoners already stood waiting for their judgement.

"Halt! Abort the hangings!" The Sheriff called out with his hand up in the air.

"What is he doing?" Baron Amos asked, astonished at what he was seeing.

"I do not know!" Gisborne exclaimed, equally stunned by his cousin's behaviour.

"My lord?" The town crier said as he regarded him curiously.

The Sheriff ignored him and stood in the center of the platform and looked down into the crowd. He raised his arms as the crowd was breaking out in a great tumult over the sight of him there.

"People! Friends! Nobleman and their ladies! Honoured guests! This execution has been stayed." He began.

The crowd let out cries of disbelief.

"Silence!" The Sheriff bellowed.

The crowd responded. Their cries simmered down to whispers and murmurs of shock.

"Some facts have come to light which have caused me to pardon the prisoners – Robert and Isabelle Whitfield. They have been granted special dispensation. There shall be no execution today. Go home." He directed them by waving them away. The crowd began to slowly disperse.

Guy shook his head, incredulous.

"He cannot be serious?" Bishop Hereford exclaimed. "He must have taken ill? He is clearly unwell, my lord!"

"You can say that again!" Guy spat. "I'm going down there to speak to him. I'm sure I know where to find him." He assured him before he made a fast exit.

"Release these prisoners at once!" The Sheriff ordered the guards.

Robert and Isabelle looked at one another completely astonished, then down to the Sheriff.

The guards began to untie them and then assisted them down from the wooden stools they stood upon. The hoods and nooses were just about to be placed when the Sheriff interrupted the proceedings.

"Bring them to the Council Quarters." The Sheriff directed his guards. He looked to Robert. "We need to have a little chat before you go." The Sheriff winked.

"No doubt." Robert snorted.

The Sheriff saw Luke with Drake and Adam as he made his way back into the castle. He nodded a quick greeting to them. Luke suddenly remembered something about the prisoner and he wasn't sure if the Sheriff knew. His master never mentioned it. Now the prisoner was freed. Perhaps the Sheriff might want to know? Luke went after him.

"My lord, if I may. I need to tell you something." Luke implored him as he caught up to him.

"Can't it wait, Luke? I need to speak to Whitfield!" The Sheriff said impatiently.

"No, sir." Luke replied firmly.

The Sheriff stopped in his tracks and looked at Luke with his eyebrow raised demanding an explanation.

"He is free now, is he not, my lord? There is something about him that I am sure will interest you. I don't think you're aware of it." Luke began.

"Yes, whatever! What is it, Luke?" The Sheriff demanded impatiently.

"That man – your former prisoner, is a blacksmith." Luke announced as he gave his master a knowing look.

The Sheriff's eyes widened as a smile slowly spread across his face.

"Brilliant! How fortunate for me!" The Sheriff grinned. "Thank you, Luke!" He said as he patted his knight on the back before continuing on his way.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rhiannon walked into the bath chamber. She poured Mortianna's liquid lavender soap into the tub and began to fill it with the water she had boiled to heat it, and a bucket of cold water to stabilize the temperature. She had done her crying, enough to last a year. She was not one to cry but she was so overcome by all of the earth shattering events in the recent days she finally relented. Her eyes were slightly puffy and now her head ached. It was well past the time her brother was scheduled to hang. Robert was dead… again. The Sheriff still believed Robert and Rhiannon were lovers. The secret died with Robert. And now, she was carrying the Sheriff's child. She couldn't tell her brother, even though it killed her not to, and she couldn't tell the Sheriff. He just killed her brother! How could she ever possibly forgive him? She removed her burgundy velvet dressing gown and laid it on the chair beside the tub. Then she stepped into it and slid into the water, allowing the heat to soothe her tired muscles.

All of the most important men in my life are dead to me. I am cursed! She sighed and closed her eyes. She wished this were only a nightmare. She would give anything to wake up out of it. She prayed for sleep to come in an effort to make her wish come true.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Sheriff sat at the head of the large oak table in the Council Quarters as he waited for his former prisoners to arrive. They had things they needed to discuss – he and Robert. But he needed to keep this meeting as brief as possible. He had much more important business to take care of after this. He smiled as he thought of the meeting he would soon have with Lady Rhiannon. Would she accept what he had to say? She had to! She must agree to marry me! And then a thought came to him. He had to take care of something up in his rooms before he ran out to the stables to mount his horse. He hoped he wouldn't forget. He wanted to be prepared before he saw her.

The doors flew open and the guards led Robert and Isabelle Wordsworth into the Council Quarters. The Sheriff stood and smiled.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lady Isabelle demanded. "What game are you trying to play?"

"Why don't you let me ask your husband that question, first?" The Sheriff replied with his left eyebrow quirked.

Isabelle clamped up and looked downcast.

The Sheriff moved toward Robert and stood a few feet away from him. "Why didn't you tell me you are my lady's brother? My God – you let me torture you!" The Sheriff exclaimed.

"I think you know why." Robert said.

"Yes. Well, we still need to discuss your involvement with Locksley, have no doubt about that. But your perception of me was very wrong." The Sheriff said. "If I knew you were Rhiannon's brother, you would never have been kept prisoner."

Robert looked at him incredulous.

Isabelle appeared as if she would faint.

The Sheriff went to her. "Lady Isabelle, I need to speak to your husband further. You understand?" He said.

Isabelle nodded, speechless.

The Sheriff looked to the guard who stood at her side. "Take Lady Isabelle to the dining hall and see that Jean Louis prepares something for her. She's about to fall over for God's sake!"

Lady Isabelle was too stunned to verbalize a response. She wasn't sure if she should thank him anyway. She was convinced she would be poisoned. She smiled ruefully at Robert as the guard led her out of the room.

"I'm glad we're alone." Robert began for them. The Sheriff turned around to face him. "There are a few things I need to say to you that I wouldn't want a lady to hear." Robert snarled.

"Yes. I'm sure I know what you're referring to." The Sheriff rolled his eyes. "My, the Wordsworths are a difficult lot, aren't they?" The Sheriff sighed.

"How dare you! You dallying womanizer! You claim to care for my sister. She knows nothing of your child that you charged me with kidnapping!" Robert roared.

The Sheriff put his hands together and began to pace. "You have been out of your sister's life for – hmm… how many years now?" He spun around to face him. "Six is it?" The Sheriff snapped. "A lot has happened. You know nothing of what my lady has endured, have no doubt about that, Wordsworth. Know this: that child you cared for all summer long is indeed your nephew! Your blood runs through my son's veins!" The Sheriff exclaimed. He never took his eyes from Robert's.

"You're jesting! How could she not know about the child? She knows nothing of the boy!" Robert exclaimed, incredulous.

"It is a long story. We have much to discuss." The Sheriff said. "Let's just go over the brief points of what we need to talk about, shall we? I need to see your sister and convince her to marry me – if that is alright with you, that is?" The Sheriff added with a knowing smirk.

"Hmm… we shall see about that." Robert said as he folded his arms in front of him. "I'm listening. Begin then." He grinned.

And so, over the next ten minutes the Sheriff quickly explained Rhiannon's period of captivity by the Fallen Knight, the state she was in when he found her, and her loss of memory over the child's birth as a result. Robert then went over the important points of the time he was affiliated with Robin of Locksley, and why he faked his death. And then Guy of Gisborne stormed through the door, breathless. He looked at the Sheriff and then at Robert rather stunned.

"Guy." The Sheriff smiled. "Come. I would like you to meet my future brother in law." Then he looked to Robert. "This is my cousin and Lieutenant, Sir Guy of Gisborne."

Guy gave him a look as if he had completely taken leave of his senses.

"I am not jesting, Guy. This is Robert Wordsworth. He is Lady Rhiannon's brother." The Sheriff announced as he gestured toward Robert.

Guy just stood there shaking his head and mouthed the word: "What?"

"It is true." Robert added.

"Now, Wordsworth, I need to mention one more thing before I go." The Sheriff said to Robert.

"What is that?" Robert asked.

"I am told you are a blacksmith. Am I correct?" The Sheriff asked.

"Aye."

"I am in need of one. Would you like to work for me?" The Sheriff proposed.

Gisborne stood frozen in place with his jaw slightly agape, completely astonished by the turn of events.

"You're jesting!" Robert chortled.

"No. Indeed, I am not. Why don't you consider it while you visit with your nephew at my cousin's manor? I will have my knight, Luke escort you and Lady Wordsworth there." The Sheriff suggested.

"You're serious." Robert said.

"Indeed, I am."

"What have you named the boy?" Robert suddenly asked.

"What did you call him?" The Sheriff said.

"We never thought of a name for him, isn't that funny?" Robert mused, scratching his head.

"I have a few ideas for him, but I need to speak to Rhiannon." The Sheriff said. He looked to Gisborne.

"Cousin, have a guard bring Lady Isabelle from the dining hall. Then have Luke escort them to your manor." He directed.

Guy nodded.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I need to bring my bride home." The Sheriff grinned as he took his leave.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Sheriff had been standing a few impatient moments at her door. Nobody was coming to answer it. That was odd? He saw the Duke and Mordrid stationed at their post, some forty yards away keeping watch. The Duke reported that Lady Rhiannon hadn't left her manor today. Something was wrong. He opened the door.

"Rhiannon?" He called. "Lady Rebeccah?"

He walked through every room on the main level looking for her. The only thing of life he saw was the fire burning in the fireplace in the sitting room.

She was very ill the last time he saw her! Oh…no! He quickly advanced up the stairs. He looked in her chamber. She wasn't there. Then he saw a light from under the door to her bath chamber. He slowly walked to the door and pushed it open gently, afraid of what he would find.

Lady Rhiannon appeared to be sleeping. She was in the tub with her head leaned back over the edge of it. Her hair was soaked. He guessed she had recently submerged under the water.

"My Lady Rhiannon." The Sheriff whispered as he slowly walked toward her.

Rhiannon opened her eyes and shrieked. "What the hell are you doing here?" She demanded, incredulous to see him standing in her bath chamber. She reached for her dressing gown on the chair beside her.

"Your brother is free. He did not hang today." The Sheriff said simply.

Rhiannon stared at him and let out a gasp. She could not begin to speak. She felt the tears form in her eyes but she was unable to stop them. She was so frozen she couldn't even will herself to bite her lip!

"My lady?" The Sheriff said.

"Am I… dreaming?" Lady Rhiannon finally blurted.

The Sheriff chuckled. "No, my lady. This is very real." He grinned as he went toward her.

She stood and quickly put on her dressing gown and stepped out of the tub.

"George?…" Rhiannon whispered.

"I know. I know all about it." The Sheriff began. "His involvement with Locksley. Faking his death and making you believe it these last two years. I know he asked you not to tell me. I know you were trying to protect – "

"George!" Lady Rhiannon exclaimed.

The Sheriff looked at her curiously.

"Shut up and kiss me!" Lady Rhiannon cried.

He grinned seductively as he grabbed her and pulled her to him roughly. His mouth came down on hers hard as he kissed her hungrily, devouring her taste and diving his tongue into her mouth. His kiss left her breathless. When they stopped she put her hands up to his face and leaned her forehead against his.

"God, I have missed you, my sweet prince." She breathed.

"My angel, before we continue there's something I need to do." He said. He pulled away from her and bent down on one knee before her. He extracted something from his pocket and reached for her left hand.

"My Lady Rhiannon. Lady of my heart. I love you endlessly. I wish to spend my life with you. Will you be my wife?" The Sheriff asked as he looked up and gazed into her eyes. He showed her his mother's ruby and diamond ring. Her betrothal ring she had given back to him.

Lady Rhiannon grinned. "You know I will." She winked.

The Sheriff smiled as he put the ring on her finger and stood. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him while he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed.

"My Lady Nottingham." The Sheriff breathed into her ear. "I have so missed your touch!" He spoke in a raw whisper.

She pulled him down toward her and began to unbutton his doublet frantically, then tore off his tunic. He had her dressing gown removed in moments while she unlaced the strings of his codpiece, then deftly unlaced his breeches and removed them. He looked down at her perfect naked body, receptive for his touch. He was so hard for her.

"I want you inside of my head. In my heart and soul. I want you inside of me. I want you to possess me. But first, there's something I need to do." Rhiannon winked.

She pushed him onto his back and leaned over him, kissing him. Then she slowly made her way down, grinning appreciatively when she saw just how much he desired her.

The Sheriff gasped as she finally found the part of him he needed her to taste. She took him in her hand expertly stroking him. She brought her mouth to him and began to lick and taste him, flicking him in quick strokes with her tongue before she completely enveloped him in her mouth. Her damp hair grazed his skin and gave him goose flesh everywhere it touched. He moaned as she began to please him.

"My angel…" He breathed.

She started off slowly then began to pick up the pace, augmenting the touch of her tongue with her hand. He thought he would die. He would explode if he didn't take her now!

She stopped and looked up at him. Then she climbed on top of him and slowly lowered herself to him, burning into his eyes with hers. He was breathing hard as he gazed into her green eyes. He licked his lips and swallowed at the thought of the touch of her silky flesh on his manhood. She leaned down and grazed his lips with her perfect, hard pink nipple. He grabbed it with his mouth and began to suck on it as she came down upon him. He let out a moan of pleasure as she moved on top of him. She was so wet. She was ready for him. The Sheriff felt himself grow harder inside of her.

"My angel." He breathed. He was so content.

"Take me." She demanded. "I need you… George." She whispered.

He pushed her back onto her back and thrust into her. She brought both of her legs up, entwining them around him, using them to pull him toward her and deeper into her. She arched her back and pressed her breasts against him, moaning satisfied murmurs into his ear, breathlessly kissing him and tasting his tongue as he pleased her.

She felt so good to him. She was right where she belonged in this moment. Open to him and taking him inside of her. He held her to him tightly as he moved within her, desperate to take her to utopia with him.

They pleased each other over and over again, releasing all of their pent up desire, and total bliss at being joined together again. It was after dusk when they collapsed side by side, breathless and clinging to each other.

"My lady…" The Sheriff whispered. "You're coming home with me." He announced.

"Maybe we should wait until after the wedding?" Lady Rhiannon suggested.

"Forget it!" The Sheriff snapped. "I don't want you away from me another second!" He said in a raw whisper as he began to kiss her again.

"That's good." She said as she broke the kiss moments later. "But I'm not sure I agree with you. Anyway, there is something I need to tell you." Lady Rhiannon began. She sat up and looked down at him.

"That's funny. There's something I need to tell you too, my angel." The Sheriff said as he sat up beside her. Now was as good a time as any to tell her she was a mother.

"You first." She said.

"No. Please continue, my lady." The Sheriff smiled.

"Well, uhm… please don't be angry with me. But Thomas and I lied to you on Sunday about why I was ill." Rhiannon began.

His eyebrow shot north.

"That cursed medicus! He is proving completely useless to me!" The Sheriff spat.

"I asked him to lie to you, George. I never expected this." She said, gesturing at the two of them, indicating them being together again.

"What is it, Rhiannon? What is really going on with you then?" The Sheriff asked.

"I am… we are… going to have a child." Lady Rhiannon stammered.

The Sheriff widened his eyes, completely astounded. He was going to tell her of their son! What to do now? He was going to have two children! He wasn't sure but he suddenly felt like… he might pass out? He closed his eyes and gasped.

"George!" Rhiannon shrieked. She looked over at him. He had gone completely white!

"My lady." He mumbled. "You are… with child?" The Sheriff asked. Of course! On Sunday she looked just like Lady Gisborne did the day his cousin found out she was expecting their child! How did I not make the connection?

"Yes, my lord." Rhiannon replied, puzzled. "I thought you would be pleased. You speak of children all of the time for heaven's sake!" She pointed out.

"I am pleased, my angel." The Sheriff smiled as he held her to him and kissed her forehead. He pulled her back down to the bed. "I am very content right now." Truthfully he felt a little sick. "You have no idea. Why, I'm so overwhelmed I … I don't quite know what to say!" The Sheriff replied smoothly.

"Are you certain?" Rhiannon asked as she kissed his chest.

"Of course I am." He said. "But… shouldn't you have told me before we –"

"It is alright, my love. The child will be fine." She smiled. She pulled away and looked up, gazing into his eyes. "So, my love. You were going to tell me something too. What was it?" She asked.

"Hmm… isn't that funny? I do not remember it!" The Sheriff lied. "Clearly… it couldn't have been very important." He added dryly.

She smiled and began to kiss him again. "My love, I thought I'd never hold you again. And I thought I'd never see my brother again. And here you are, lying naked next to me – right where you belong, my sweet prince." She winked. "And you tell me my brother is alive. Are you sure I'm not dreaming?" She asked.

"Yes, my beautiful lady." The Sheriff chuckled. "This better not be a dream! If it is, I don't want to wake up." He smirked. "Right now I never want to let you out of my sight. I will smother you with my affections." He grinned seductively.

"Oh, my prince." She sighed as she raked her fingertips through his silky raven waves. "How I love you so." She smiled.

He took her hand and kissed it, then tasted her fingertips. "My lady, you couldn't possibly love me the way I love you." He breathed.

"Wanna bet?" She winked.

"Come home with me, my love." The Sheriff said. "There are people there who love you besides me who want to see you." He smiled.

"I want to…" She said softly.

"Then it will be done." The Sheriff said.

"Don't you think it's better if I remain here until we are wed?" She asked.

"No. Especially not now. Not when there are two of you for me to worry about." The Sheriff said. Very soon he would wish he never mentioned the other baby coming.

"Are you sure you're pleased about the baby, George?" Rhiannon asked.

The Sheriff raised himself up and leaned on his elbow as he looked down upon her.

"My Lady Rhiannon, you have made me a very happy man. I was happy enough that you agreed to be my bride. And now – this!" He swallowed. "Of course I am pleased. And you shall be a perfect mother." He smiled as he caressed her cheek.

"Will I be?" She asked.

"You know you will." He grinned.

"George?"

"Yes, my love."

"I am… nervous about this. What if I don't give you a son?" Lady Rhiannon said.

"It does not matter, Rhiannon. As long as you and the child are healthy that is all I care about!" The Sheriff exclaimed.

Did he really appear that shallow? He never even thought he'd be a father, never mind care about the sex of his future hypothetical child! Who cares anyway? She already gave him a son! The one he wondered when he would ever be able to finally tell her of! Perhaps Lady Margaret was right. Perhaps his son would be ten years old before he knew his own name or met his own mother! What am I stalling for? He opened his mouth to try to tell her and was interrupted… as usual. He tried not to chuckle.

"What if… I go into labour at some unfavourable function? A formal affair!"

"What?" The Sheriff asked, incredulous.

"What if something goes wrong?" Lady Rhiannon added. "What if… you and I are away somewhere and nobody can get to us? And there will only be you there to deliver the child?" Rhiannon exclaimed in horror.

"Rhiannon!" The Sheriff said sharply. It was about here where he regretted mentioning the child that was coming.

"Oh my God. I will die right then and there… of utter shame!" Rhiannon said as she sat up nearly bumping his head. "Oh, the horror of it! I cannot have you see me that way! I swear I shall die!" She exclaimed.

"Rhiannon!" The Sheriff shouted as he sat up. She was beside herself! Getting herself worked into a tizzy over nothing! Or was she? "My love, hush! You're getting way ahead of yourself! How far along are you anyway?" The Sheriff asked.

"Thomas thinks close to two months." Rhiannon said.

"You see! You still have plenty of time. It will be alright, my angel. I will not be taking you out in the woods somewhere at the risk you'll be in a situation like that!" The Sheriff said. Bloody right I won't be! I cannot be the one to do it!

"What if… it changes everything?" Lady Rhiannon asked.

"Oh, my lady." The Sheriff breathed as he held her face in his hands. "Everything is changed. We will have a whole new life together. We shall have children – "

"Wait a minute! As far as I know, there is only one of our children growing inside of me." Lady Rhiannon pointed out.

"Whatever." The Sheriff sighed. "The point is it is our child. A part of our lives. We will share a life together – now and always." He smiled.

"I knew you would make me feel better." Rhiannon sighed contentedly as she embraced him.

That's good. Because I feel worse. I shall be afraid to take her anywhere in the months ahead now! The Sheriff shook his head. He never once considered that he would have to deliver a child. He wished to Zeus that his lady hadn't just planted the visual in his mind.