The Sheriff and his lovely lady were walking together down the long corridor that was aglow with the light of torches blazing on either side of them, toward the stairwell. They had just bid goodnight to their guests and now they were finally alone together.
"I'm pleased to have you back, my lady." The Sheriff said as they mounted the stairs together.
"It feels right. This is where I belong. Wherever you are – that is where I belong." Lady Rhiannon smiled.
"You got that right, my lady." The Sheriff grinned.
She looked so ravishing. He could hardly wait to get her into his chambers. He wished for wings to fly just then.
"Did you tell your brother of our news?" The Sheriff asked.
"No. I didn't get the chance." Rhiannon said.
"You will." He smiled.
"I know. There just never seemed to be a perfect moment so it shall have to wait. I'd rather tell him in more private company anyway. Although, I don't mind if you and Isabelle are present." Rhiannon explained.
"I understand, my angel." He said.
Finally they made it to the door of his private chambers. He opened it and led her inside. The candles were still burning brightly in the room. She smiled.
Nottingham closed the door behind them and was upon her in seconds. He held her close to him a moment, inhaling the scent of roses from her hair before his lips came down hard upon hers. His kiss was soft and passionate as he languidly drove his tongue past her luscious lips and tasted her tongue with his, leaving her breathless with desire for him.
"My angel…" He breathed as he kissed her neck and took the silver and diamond combs from her hair. Her sable tresses danced with light cast from the candlelight and the blazing torches as it fell and cascaded to her shoulders.
"I missed you." She whispered. "I never want to be away from you again."
"You never will be." The Sheriff said. "Unless…I am away on a mission." He smiled.
Rhiannon looked up at him with a smirk and slowly began toying with the silver and diamond buttons on the bodice of her beautiful, brick orange, raw silk gown. She unfastened them slowly to reveal her perfect body underneath. She did not wear a shift underneath the gown.
"Hmm." The Sheriff grinned as he eyed her appreciatively. "Now I see what you mean about not expecting a good girl when we got back here. I wished I'd known this sooner." He winked.
"Good or naughty, I can be anything you wish for me to be." Rhiannon said with a wink. She slipped her gown off her smooth shoulders and wriggled out of it, letting the raw silk fabric fall to her feet. He smirked and moved toward her to embrace her but she shook her head, grinning at him, and then she knelt before him.
The Sheriff tugged at his collar and closed his eyes. She moved in closer and slowly untied the strings of his codpiece and cast it aside. Next she unlaced his breeches and the soft velvet fabric grazed his skin, teasing him as it fell away. He swallowed.
She reached out and took a hold of him, then moved forward bringing her lips to him. She let her tongue travel the length of his manhood, and flicked at the tip softly before she took him completely in her mouth, enveloping him in the sweet wet softness, slowly sucking and swirling her tongue around him as she augmented the touch of her mouth and her tongue with her hand.
The Sheriff threw his head back and sighed as he brought his hands to either side of her face, holding her head to guide her as he moaned appreciative responses to her expert ministrations. She took her time pleasing him for several glorious minutes. He thought he would die of pure bliss.
"Oh, my beautiful lady. I am so hard for you…" He whispered.
"Good." She said as she stood and threw her arms around his neck. "Because I am… wet for you." She whispered.
"Rhiannon…" He sighed.
"Take me, my love." She said.
The Sheriff picked her up and carried her to the four poster bed. He gently lay her down upon the fine silk linens. She looked up at him and smiled while he kicked off his boots then unbuttoned his black velvet doublet, removed it, then carelessly tossed it to the floor. He cast a smoldering, seductive glance upon her as he leaned down and kissed her. He stretched out on the bed beside her. He took her in his arms as he continued to kiss her while she removed his tunic and his breeches.
"Oh, my lady. You look so… different. So… radiant. Indeed, it is like someone placed a torch inside of you and lit it." The Sheriff smiled as he leaned down over her.
"Because I am so very happy." Lady Rhiannon smiled.
"No. It's more than that." He said as put his hand to her breast and kneaded it. Then he brought his lips to her erect, pink rosebud nipple and took it in his mouth, sucking and tasting it with his tongue until she thought she would go mad with desire.
"Your breasts, Rhiannon. They are… different." The Sheriff said as he raised himself up and leaned upon his elbow to gaze down at her. "Is it me, or…have they grown?" The Sheriff asked with his eyes narrowed as he studied them, while he reached over and caressed them with his free hand.
"Uhm…yes, George. I think they have." Rhiannon blushed.
"Why are they bigger?" The Sheriff asked as his eyebrow shot north. "Not that I'm complaining, mind you." He added with a grin.
"I do not know, but they have been rather tender for awhile now. They do feel bigger. I think it has something to do with… our child growing within me." She said.
"Oh, I see." The Sheriff said. His eyes narrowed again as he mused. "Will they shrink after the child is delivered?" He asked.
"I'm not sure, my love." Rhiannon said with a grin. Leave it to him to have questions about her breasts rather than their child! She tried not to chuckle.
He gazed down upon her and cast her a smoldering glance. Indeed, there was an aura of light about her, more than what the extrinsic candlelight and torchlight could offer her. He licked his lips surreptitiously.
"Aye, beautiful. It is indeed like you are lit from within. I've seen you aglow several times. In fact you're radiant more often than not – but I have never seen you like this." The Sheriff smiled warmly.
"If I am radiant and my breasts appear different it is because there is a part of you inside of me." Rhiannon smiled seductively as she lowered her dark lashes, then looked up at him with her aqua green eyes, glistening with desire for him. She was on fire for him and dying for him to touch her.
The Sheriff sighed and felt himself growing harder for her. "Rhiannon…" He sighed.
"You make me this way, my sweet prince. If I have come to life, it is because of you, but… I already knew that." She winked.
"Oh, my beautiful lady. What the hell did I do to deserve you?" He asked.
"Love me. That is what you did. And speaking of which… where were we?" Rhiannon grinned.
"Patience, my lady. You shall have the rest of our lives to touch my body." The Sheriff grinned. He cleared his throat. "Now, I started to say this months ago, but the moment was soon lost and became quickly forgotten." He began.
"What is it, George?" She asked as her eyes searched his.
The Sheriff swallowed. He hoped his words wouldn't jog her memory, but it was right before she remembered being violated that he planned to do this for her. He sighed then met her gaze with his amber hazel eyes and bore into hers. His eyes burned like blazing torches with desire for her.
"I know nothing of the true taste of you." The Sheriff said with a wink and a sensual smirk.
"My love…" Rhiannon whispered as she closed her eyes and sighed.
"My angel." He whispered as he began to kiss her lips softly. "Let me… please you. I want you to scream for it." The Sheriff said in a raw whisper.
"My prince, you can touch me anywhere and any way that you damn well please." She breathed. "I submit to you… body and soul." Rhiannon smiled.
"God, you are such a gift, Rhiannon." He said as he began to kiss her hungrily.
"And you're my dream come true." Rhiannon purred as he moved his body down hers, trailing her with soft and gentle kisses until he touched the place where her desire began for him with his tongue….
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"How much longer are you planning to stay here and keep up with this cursed charade?" Ancel asked of his friend. Once again they were sitting at a table in the local tavern sharing a mug of ale.
"As long as it sodding takes!" Hamon spat.
"What exactly is this grand plan of yours?" Ancel asked as he wiped the froth from his lips with the back of his hand.
"We take from him that which is most precious. As he did to me!" Hamon said sharply.
"Right. And what do you plan to do with her?" Ancel asked with his eyebrow quirked over his intense gray eyes.
"Take a wild guess." Hamon grinned malevolently.
"You're planning to kill her." Ancel surmised.
"Not just kill her." Hamon said as he put his mug on the table and leaned in closer. He clasped his hands together and rested his chin upon them. "She is going to burn. Exactly the way my sister did." Hamon snarled.
"He is going to find out we're here. Especially after the run in we had with his Knights only a week ago! Your plans shall be thwarted." Ancel pointed out.
"Not if he thinks I went back to Portsmouth." Hamon said with a knowing look.
"What are you up to?" Ancel asked as his eyebrow shot north.
"You shall see. But we're leaving that inn." Hamon said as he picked up the mug again and took a sip of the frothy ale.
"And then what?"
"We bide our time. I'll know when the timing is right. I need to know more first. Obviously you were wrong about their wedding plans!" Hamon admonished his henchman.
"How was I to know it had been called off?" Ancel spat. "And what does it matter? How shall the blacksmith find you? You commissioned him to obtain Spanish steel for you yesterday, or have you forgotten?" Ancel pointed out.
"Tell me, Ancel: do you ever use that brain of yours?" Hamon seethed. He shook his head and sighed. "I will find the blacksmith. You let me do the thinking and trust me. Do not question me. I have it all figured out." Hamon grinned knowingly as he took another sip from his mug.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was early morning of Friday October third that Robert Wordsworth first reported for duty at Nottingham Castle. He was accompanied by Officer Luke of the Black Knights, who showed him past the portcullis then inside the castle as per his master's request. Robert spotted the Sheriff walking down the long corridor of the main level of the castle toward him.
"Good day, Wordsworth. Are you ready to see the armoury then?" The Sheriff said as he came toward him.
"Aye. I'm ready to begin." Robert smiled.
The Sheriff nodded then looked to Luke. "Thank you, Luke. You may go, but I wish to meet with you in the Council Quarters in one hour hence." The Sheriff said.
"Aye. As you wish, my lord." Luke nodded before he turned to take leave.
"I thought you may wish to get settled into your apartment here first?" The Sheriff said to Robert after Luke had left.
"My lady is packing our things for us now – what little we have with us. I will bring her later when my tour of duty is completed." Robert said.
"Splendid." The Sheriff said. Then his eyebrow shot north before he continued. "But, seriously Wordsworth, what in the devil would your wife need to pack? You two were prisoners. You had nothing when you got here!" The Sheriff pointed out, incredulous.
"Truthfully, my lord, I believe she would feel more comfortable if I was with her and didn't have to leave her alone there, at least at first." Robert explained.
"Oh. I see." The Sheriff nodded. "Well, come then. I shall take you to the armoury personally. I need to have a word anyway with my present blacksmith, Stephanus. He will assume he shall need to take leave when he meets you. I would like to be there to tell him the news myself, poor cursed soul." The Sheriff shook his head and clicked his tongue against his palate a few beats.
"Oh. What news is that, Nottingham? Or may I ask?" Robert said.
"You are right to ask, Wordsworth. The news is that he shall remain employed here… as your assistant." The Sheriff winked with a knowing smirk.
"What? But you said the man was blind!" Robert spat.
"He is not completely blind yet, and for a man who can't see within an inch in front of him…" The Sheriff began with his eyebrow quirked. Then he narrowed his eyes and rubbed his raven black beard thoughtfully. "Aye, you know, for a man as blind as he, he did damn well on the hauberks, poleyns, helms, and the couters!" The Sheriff exclaimed with a grin.
"My lord, with all due respect, if he has not his sight, he shall be useless to me." Robert stated matter of factly.
"You shall find use for him! What shall he do for employment then?" The Sheriff demanded.
"My, you really have changed!" Robert teased. "You actually do care about some folks!"
"Oh, shut it!" The Sheriff growled. "I can still toss you into my dungeon, Wordsworth! It's only at the other end of the sublevel where I'm taking you!" The Sheriff exclaimed.
"Great. No sodding windows." Robert spat. "How utterly… thoughtful of you." He sighed.
The Sheriff shook his head and sighed. They continued walking as the Sheriff led him down the stairs that took them to the sublevel. Fifteen minutes later they stood at the threshold of the armoury in the north wing of the castle. Robert noted it to be a large room and well manned. It was lit by several torches, but unfortunately they added to the heat in the room. For fires also blazed about the chamber as several men were using it to coax metal into blades for swords, and various pieces of armour. He wondered who in this room would know of the Sheriff's source for Spanish steel? Was the Sheriff still using Spanish steel? Would the blind blacksmith know? Robert hated to admit it as he didn't trust that man at the inn, but he could surely use those extra fifty gold pieces. It would be awhile before he would collect his first wages from the Sheriff.
"Come. I can see him up ahead." The Sheriff said to Robert.
The Sheriff led Robert to an area near the back of the armoury. Stephanus was there speaking to another of the men who worked in the armoury. The shorter man whispered something to Stephanus, then Stephanus turned in the Sheriff's direction as the other man took leave of him.
"My Lord Sheriff? Is that you?" Stephanus asked when he sensed the Sheriff had moved in closer to him.
"Yes, Stephanus. It is I, your master." The Sheriff said.
Robert sighed and began to shift uncomfortably.
"Stephanus, I have someone here to meet you. He shall be employed as my blacksmith." The Sheriff said.
Stephanus swallowed.
Robert stepped forward and extended his right hand. He lightly touched the man's wrist first to let him know of his presence. "Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Robert Wordsworth of Pocklington." Robert said as he shook the graying haired man's hand.
"Indeed. I am Stephanus." The blacksmith said. He released Robert's grip and looked toward the Sheriff. "Right. Well, it's been good, my lord. I shall be going then." Stephanus smiled ruefully as he began to take his leave.
The Sheriff reached out and held Stephanus' arm to stay him when the blacksmith neared him. "Go…where exactly? Where do you have to go, Stephanus?" The Sheriff asked pointedly.
"My lord?" Stephanus asked, bewildered.
"You have nowhere to go. You shall stay working for me, and you shall retain your quarters in the castle. You shall assist Robert." The Sheriff said.
"You must be jesting, my lord!" Stephanus cried.
"No. I am not." The Sheriff said as his eyebrow shot north. He looked to his two blacksmiths as he continued. "Why am I always asked that? – 'Are you jesting?'? Do I really seem that heartless?" He asked.
"Yes." They both replied in unison with not a moments' hesitation.
The Sheriff shook his head then looked back to Stephanus. "Today is Robert's first tour of duty. You shall show him around the armoury and bring him up to speed on the current little projects you're working on at the moment. He will be taking over for you but you shall assist him in whatever he asks of you. Unless… you would rather be homeless?" The Sheriff added with his eyebrow quirked.
"No, my lord. I shall be pleased to continue working in your armoury." Stephanus smiled gratefully.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A short time later the Sheriff saw the page on the main level of the castle as he strolled past the library.
"Page!" The Sheriff called to him.
"Yes, sir?" The young blond lad replied as he scurried over to his master.
"Find me Gisborne, Duke Farnsworth, and Officer Mordrid of the Black Knights. Tell them to meet me in the Council Quarters in thirty minutes hence." The Sheriff directed him. He had a new assignment for his men now. He relieved the Duke and Mordrid from their posts at Rhiannon's manor yesterday, when he knew Lady Rhiannon was coming back. They had been instructed to remain there until she left, then follow her discreetly on the way back to Nottingham Castle to see to her safety.
"Very well, sir." The page nodded obediently before he hurried off to carry out the task.
The Sheriff continued to his chambers. Lady Rhiannon was still asleep when he left her, and he needed to remind her of the meeting with Galfrey today. He smiled as he ascended the stairs to the second floor of the north wing leading to his chambers, when he thought of the number of times last night she had pleased him, and the variety of ways that she achieved it. He was the luckiest man in England as far as he was concerned. Not only was she beautiful, she was very astute, she even knew a language that he didn't, and she seemed to take great care to please him in every way possible! The Sheriff sighed as he pushed that nagging intrusive thought from his mind that kept warning him that Lady Rhiannon was just too damned good to be true. The woman was near perfect! He had a gnawing sick feeling again, ever since they reconciled in fact, that something terrible was about to go awry, this time it had only to do with her. Like a perception that something was going to happen to her that would put her in mortal danger…again. No. You're just thinking like that because you've nearly lost her…hmm. How many times is it now? Two? No. Three! No! Four if you want to include the time that you chose to quarrel for nearly a fortnight. She wasn't half dead then like the other times but she didn't want you, or you thought! No, everything is fine! She is with child. She is carrying your child, you fool! You shall marry her, you shall tell her of our son. What could possibly go wrong? Then his eyes widened. Was he having a sense of danger about her because maybe something might go wrong when the child was birthed from her body? He'd heard of this happening. He knew it happened to Rhiannon's mother. It also happened to his own mother! Lady Aelesia Nottingham died when the Sheriff was only a year old, when she was delivering her second son. The one who died at birth - nameless. Alas, there was nobody to name the boy. The Sheriff's father - Giles Nottingham, had died when his mother was carrying the brother that the Sheriff never knew. The Sheriff's father was murdered by a common thief who stole into the castle – when his father drew his sword to defend his gold – which is why the Sheriff had such a bone to pick with Locksley and his cursed rabble three years ago! The Sheriff shuddered. He prayed to Zeus that nothing would happen to his lovely Rhiannon while she was giving their child life!
He was startled when some moments later, he was walking into his private chambers and he found his lady to be at the window, leaning over it, with her head hanging out of it.
"Rhiannon? What in the devil?" He exclaimed as he came up behind her. She was wearing her burgundy velvet dressing gown. He placed his hand upon her shoulder and touched the soft fabric.
Lady Rhiannon didn't speak, just merely moaned an inaudible response. The Sheriff put his arm around her and leaned over to speak with her.
"My love! What is it?" The Sheriff asked urgently.
"I need…air." Lady Rhiannon muttered.
"Are you alright?" The Sheriff asked.
She slowly straightened herself up and turned toward him. Her face had lost all of its' colour and once again tiny beads of perspiration had formed on her forehead and cheeks.
"Rhiannon!" The Sheriff exclaimed as his eyes widened in horror.
"Do not worry yourself over me, George. You were the one who wanted children. Well, this is what must come with it. Every cursed morning to be exact!" She spat.
"My angel, perhaps it shall be better in time. Lady Gisborne seems to be faring much better?" The Sheriff offered.
"I loathe feeling like this." Rhiannon muttered as her hand flew up to her forehead and she closed her eyes and grimaced.
"Perhaps you should lie down, my angel?" The Sheriff suggested.
Rhiannon's eyes flew open at the suggestion. "Oh, no. If I do that, I shall have to live through this all over again the moment I lift my head from the pillow! I'm telling you, George – it is like a curse!" Lady Rhiannon exclaimed.
"My love, there must be something I can do?" The Sheriff asked. At that moment he was very grateful to be born a lad instead of a wee lass. Children should just show up at people's homes in baskets. It would be so much easier! He hated to see his lady feeling so unwell. Although, I do quite like her breasts this way. He mused as he stifled the grin that threatened to form. Her velvet dressing gown was open to just below her cleavage. The Sheriff couldn't help but notice them peaking out of it, inviting his touch. He swallowed before he continued. "Perhaps you shall feel better after you break your fast?" The Sheriff added.
"Oh, God! Do not mention food to me, George!" Rhiannon exclaimed as her palm moved down from her forehead to cover her mouth. She looked like she might heave.
The Sheriff took a step backward subconsciously as he looked upon her with concern.
"I'm sending for Thomas." The Sheriff said resolutely.
"No. I do not want Thomas. What does he know of what a woman feels when she is carrying a child?" Lady Rhiannon pointed out. "You know exactly whom I need! Although, I doubt she'd have recommendations for this. She'd probably tell me to quit complaining and that I had better get used to it!" Rhiannon huffed.
The Sheriff swallowed. Curses! He knew exactly whom Rhiannon referred to, but Lady Margaret was at Guy's manor in Nettlestone overseeing the care of their son. The son that he still needed to tell Rhiannon about!
"Thomas knows what to do, my angel. He is a physician after all." The Sheriff soothed.
"It is time I have a midwife see to my care." Lady Rhiannon said.
"I thought you didn't care for Lady Margaret?" The Sheriff pointed out. Perhaps this fact shall make her back off and change her mind?
"Oh, it is true the lady can be overbearing, I can't argue with that, but she is knowledgeable and she is the only decent midwife in the village. You know that, George!" Rhiannon pleaded. "I would feel so much more at ease with her, my prince." Rhiannon added as she looked downcast and took some deep breaths to stay the nausea.
"I will see what I can do." The Sheriff sighed. "And in the meantime, is there anything else that might help you?" He asked.
She turned back to the window and hung her head out of it again. Then she suddenly had a thought. She remembered that Meridwyn swore up and down that the remedy had helped her. "Aye, there is one thing." Rhiannon said, though she was loathed to suggest it.
"What is that, my lady?" The Sheriff asked as he moved beside her and leaned down to her face again. She was going to catch her death from the chill autumn air if she persisted with this!
She turned her head to the right to look at him, still keeping her head hanging outside of the window. "Mortianna's batwing tea." She said flatly.
"What?" The Sheriff asked, incredulous.
"Meridwyn swears to me it's the only thing that helped her with…this. I'm willing to try anything if I have to." Rhiannon sighed.
The Sheriff shook his head. "Alright, my angel. If that is your wish I will send for her. I shall do that now, for I must go. I need to meet with Gisborne and some of my staff, but I needed to remind you we have a meeting with Galfrey later, my dear. He is the man who comes to us from Nettlestone whom you shall meet to discuss the flowers for our wedding." The Sheriff explained. He reached over and smoothed her hair, then began to massage her shoulder. "My angel, do you think you will be up for it? We can do this another time." The Sheriff suggested.
"No, I will be fine. This usually only lasts for a couple of hours. There has been the rare occasion I have felt like this… all day, however." She lamented. When she saw the shock registered upon his face she wished she had kept that bit of information to herself.
"My God, Rhiannon!" The Sheriff exclaimed. Must she suffer the entire time?
She quirked her eyebrow and looked over at him. "Aye, my prince. Your child is sucking the life force out of me if the honest truth be told." Rhiannon frowned. "Yesterday morning was unusual for me. This is how I generally greet each day now." She added.
Nottingham shook his head. He had no idea that this condition could cause a lady to suffer so! Did his own mother suffer like this? He wished he could ask her. Once again, this was one of the few times in his life he yearned for his mother's presence. He sighed. The Sheriff prayed to Zeus that she wouldn't be miserable for the entire duration of it. It was bad enough what was coming! He shuddered.
"I shall check on you again before I go into the village after my meeting." The Sheriff sighed. "If you're going to have one of those days you just described, we will definitely postpone our meeting with Galfrey." The Sheriff soothed.
"That's fine, my love. I do hope this shall pass. I do not wish to postpone our meeting with him but I can tell you that if this doesn't pass, I won't wish to be speaking with anybody!" She exclaimed. She turned her head away and inhaled some sharp breaths of the crisp autumn air. "You best summon Mortianna, my lord." Rhiannon sighed. "Or at least back away." She added as a suggestion.
"Yes." The Sheriff said shaking his head as he straightened up, then headed to the door. As he neared the doorway of the inner chamber he turned back to face her. "I will return, my angel. Send my sentry to the Council Quarters to summon me if you need me." He added.
She turned back and smiled at him weakly.
The Sheriff sent the sentry posted outside of the door to summon Mortianna. He already had enough places to go and people to see today than to add one more to the list. Let's see now… my men, Homely Hamon, that conniving little whore – Celestria, and Galfrey. He shook his head and sighed and made his way back down to the Council Quarters.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
His Lieutenant was the first to appear. The Sheriff was grateful, for he had matters of a personal nature to discuss with his cousin as well as orders of business.
"You summoned, cousin? Does this have anything to do with that unfortunate looking one in Portsmouth?" Gisborne asked as he strolled into the meeting room.
"Aye. You're very perceptive, cousin." The Sheriff said as he walked toward him. "I told you that Luke mentioned the homely little insect is staying right here in Nottingham?" The Sheriff began to jog his memory.
"Aye. You did, my lord." Gisborne nodded.
"Well, there's only one place he could be staying, unless he has more cursed relatives living here!" The Sheriff spat.
"Indeed. He must be staying at the inn in the village." Guy said.
"So we go there to find him. He tried to start something with my men last week at the local tavern!" The Sheriff growled as he paused to pour water from the pitcher on the oak table into a silver goblet. He lifted the goblet to his lips and sipped from it.
"Which ones?" Guy asked.
"Luke, Drake, and Adam." The Sheriff said. "He gave them a message to relay to me. He said I should keep an eye on my belongings – whatever the hell that means." The Sheriff sighed as he rolled his eyes.
"What shall we do with him if we find him there?" Gisborne asked.
"We drag him back here, throw him into the dungeon, let him sweat it out in there for a good length of time, and then you shall interrogate him for me. And naturally, if he won't cooperate, we torture the hell out of the sodding bastard! That rotten little insect us up to something, Guy. I can feel it in my gut! You know how my gut is always right!" The Sheriff added as his eyebrow shot north.
"Aye, cousin." Guy nodded. "And then what will you do with him, after you torture him, that is?"
"Well, it would be more effective if he was there at his home when we barge into it to charge him with heresy, but I guess we will be making a trip to Portsmouth, regardless of what we find at the inn." The Sheriff grinned knowingly with his eyebrow quirked again.
"Indeed, cousin." Guy agreed. "You're determined to see this man dead." He sighed.
"I'm telling you, that cursed insect is up to something. I can feel it, Guy. He's a liability. He's better dead. We'll all be better off with him dead!" The Sheriff spat.
"Aye." Gisborne nodded resignedly.
"Now, I'm glad you arrived here early. I need to ask you a personal question." The Sheriff said, quickly changing the subject.
"What is it, cousin?" Guy asked, his curiousity piqued.
"How long was it before… Lady Gisborne started to feel a little better with this condition of hers?" The Sheriff asked.
"She was miserable until just recently, my lord. She's only been feeling fit for the last week." Guy said.
"Oh, dear Zeus!" The Sheriff exclaimed in disbelief.
"What is it, George?" Guy asked.
The Sheriff shook his head. "I just hate to see my angel suffering so. You should see her now, cousin. I just left her. She was leaning out of the window in my private chamber, deeply inhaling the frigid autumn air in an attempt to stop herself from heaving up all over the chamber!" The Sheriff exclaimed in shock.
Gisborne tried not to chuckle. He slapped his cousin playfully on the back. "Cheer up, cousin. In a few weeks time ye shall be lamenting about the fact that you will not be able to keep your kitchens stocked well enough!" Guy grinned.
The Sheriff looked at his cousin strangely. "What in the devil?" He asked.
"Aye. For many weeks my bride couldn't hold down one blessed morsel – at any time of the day. Now… she craves everything in sight! I cannot go to her now unless I bring forth a tray to her!" Gisborne exclaimed, still shocked at Lady Meridwyn's endless hunger.
"Why can't they just have normal appetites!" The Sheriff spat as he shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"It's like I told you before, cousin: it is indeed one of the mysteries of the universe." Guy sighed, shaking his head.
The Sheriff shook his head and put his goblet back down on the table. Just then the door opened and his sentry announced the arrival of his men. The Sheriff gestured for the guard to show them in.
Duke Farnsworth, and Officers Luke and Mordrid of the Black Knights entered into the meeting room to answer their master's summons. The sentry closed the door and returned to his post outside of the chamber.
"You have a task for us, my lord?" The Duke asked as the group advanced closer to the Sheriff.
Nottingham slowly walked toward his men. "Yes. As you know there is a matter I'm dealing with concerning a troublesome man from Portsmouth." The Sheriff began. He looked to Luke. "You've met with him, Luke." He said with his eyebrow quirked knowingly.
"My lord?" Luke asked.
"The loathsome drunk you and your comrades came across last week in the tavern!" The Sheriff spat. "The same one who caused the commotion in the courtyard the day I hired you back in August – although, I suppose I should be grateful to the sodding bastard for that." The Sheriff sighed.
"Oh. Right, my Lord Sheriff." Luke nodded. "And how might I be of service in the matter then?" Luke asked.
The Sheriff smiled then looked to his Lieutenant. "Now you see why I hired him, Gis? He doesn't even wait for instruction. He just naturally assumes he has a duty to perform!" The Sheriff exclaimed. "Why aren't they all like this!" He spat.
"Indeed, cousin." Gisborne sighed.
"My Lord Sheriff, pardon me, but what is our assignment now?" Mordrid interrupted as he pushed a long wheat coloured lock from his piercing blue eyes. "For surely that is why you have summoned us here?" He added curiously.
Duke Farnsworth folded his arms and nodded as he awaited the response from his master. Luke turned his attention to the Sheriff and waited curiously for his answer.
"You are correct, Mordrid." The Sheriff said. He looked to Gisborne and shot him a knowing glance before he turned his attention back to his men.
"You are my top three men after Gisborne. My Lieutenant and I need to pay a visit to Portsmouth, though I'm not sure when. I will know better after I go to seek him at the inn." The Sheriff explained. He looked to Duke Farnsworth. "You are my lead investigator and Captain of the Black Knights. You shall be in charge in my absence when Gisborne and I venture to Portsmouth." The Sheriff said.
"Very well, my lord." Duke Farnsworth nodded.
The Sheriff looked over to Luke. "Luke, you and your comrades are the only of my men besides Gisborne to have had the sheer and utter misfortune of looking upon this homely, sodding bastard I seek. Though you three are the only ones to have seen this comrade of his. For now your duties shall remain the same. You, along with Drake and Adam shall man the portcullis because you shall recognize him and or his henchman if either of them has the audacity to come calling here!" The Sheriff spat. "And if either of them do show up, you shall hold them for me." He added.
"As you wish, my lord." Luke nodded.
"But assuming he doesn't show up, when Gisborne and I, and one other of my Knights, as well as the Bishop of Hereford head into Portsmouth, than you shall be assigned to be guardian of my lady. You shall follow her everywhere save for the privy chamber! You shall guard her door when she sleeps." The Sheriff said. "Every time she sleeps." He added. For he knew that his lady was prone to fatigue in her current condition, but he didn't feel like explaining this to his men just now.
Luke widened his eyes in astonishment. "My lord?" He asked, shaking his head.
"You will do it, Luke. You are ready, lad." The Sheriff nodded to the newest and one of the finest additions to his Black Knights.
"Very well, my Lord Sheriff." Luke agreed, still stunned that the Sheriff already trusted him with Lady Rhiannon's life. He swallowed when he remembered what Adam said to him just two days ago in reference to the former jailer whom the Sheriff had hanged for treason. "And that is the reason you never want to get on the Sheriff's bad side." He could still hear Adam's voice echoing the words. Luke felt a chill travel the length of his spine. He did not wish to fail the Sheriff.
"You mentioned the Bishop, my lord. Is this the one you were telling me about? The probable heresy trial that was forthcoming?" Duke Farnsworth inquired.
"The one and only!" The Sheriff grinned.
"And…what of me, my lord?" Mordrid asked.
"You're coming with us." The Sheriff announced.
"My lord?" Mordrid asked, just as surprised as Luke. He had never been asked to accompany the Sheriff and his Lieutenant, not without the Captain present!
"Aye. If he still has his henchman with him, than Gis and I could do with some reinforcement." The Sheriff said.
"My lord, you mentioned you would be taking one other of your Knights to Portsmouth with you, along with your Lieutenant, and the Bishop." Mordrid began. He swallowed. "Surely you did not mean...me?"
"Aye. You catch on fast, Mordrid." The Sheriff winked.
Mordrid shook his head in disbelief. "The Duke and I have always been partners, your lordship. Before that it was Nic! Aye, I have always been accompanied by your Captain, except for only two occasions." Mordrid pointed out.
"And my Captain has been extolling your virtues to me for years, Mordrid. Now you shall have your moment to prove it. You're coming with us." The Sheriff said sternly.
Mordrid sighed. "Aye, my Lord Sheriff. When?"
"We're heading to the stables now." The Sheriff said, forgetting that he promised his lady he would check on her again. Indeed he was too excited over the thought of the chase now to think of it. Then he narrowed his eyes a moment. "Or…maybe not?" He added absently.
"My lord?" Mordrid asked, bewildered.
The Sheriff ignored him and looked to Luke. "When did you say Galfrey would be coming again, lad?" He asked.
"He said it would be probably just after midday, my lord." Luke replied.
"Good! Then we have plenty of time to go and make an arrest at Nottingham Inn!" The Sheriff exclaimed with a malevolent grin. "Gisborne, Mordrid, you're both coming with me. Luke and Farnsworth, you two can assume the new assignments I just handed to you." The Sheriff directed them.
Duke Farnsworth and Officer Luke took their leave to assume their tasks, as the Sheriff took his Lieutenant and Officer Mordrid to the stables to mount their horses. The Sheriff almost hoped to find him at the inn, even though it would be amusing to see the look on the cursed man's face when they all showed up at his home in Portsmouth, then make him sweat it out before the Sheriff would have Gisborne uncover the items he had previously planted there. Nottingham grinned at the thought of the look of horror that would pass over the man's face when the curious items were uncovered in his own home. Aye, he had some grand plans in store for this sodding, annoying little pest!