Chapter 3 New Friends/ New News
Margaret stood near the open window kneading out dough for the sheriff's supper. Little John, as inconspicuously as possible for a man his size made his way to the window while Will and Robin stood guard.
"Ahh...Hello Margaret." He tried to sound casual.
"Well if it isn't John Little, come to cause more trouble in the castle I suppose?" She smiled, her few missing teeth hardly noticeable.
"No...huh...actually I have come to …umm…see how you are doing," he stuttered out. Margaret's smiled widen as she leaned out over the sill; her large bosom even more prominent. "Oh have you now?"
"Aye," he answered and swallowed hard. For all his mass and strength John Little was nervous around women. It had taken him months to work up the courage to talk to Alice and in the end it was Alice who had suggested marriage.
"Well I've done the usual: made the dough, prepared the vegetables, and had to make a run to the butchers."
"Oh, why's that?"
"His high and mighty 'sheriffness' just warned me about the Lord invasion coming this weekend."
"Lord invasion?"
"Oh aye, all the northern Lords are stopping here before heading down to London. Apparently Prince John has summoned all the highest ranking men to his court."
"Do you know why?" asked Little John.
"My guess would be it is something about the holy wars." Margaret nodded.
A whistle came from beyond the arch way, Will signal that they were leaving. "Must be off Margaret…um…have a nice day," Little John said over his shoulder.
"Don't be a stranger around this window, John Little." Margaret waved and smiled goodbye.
John was greeted by two broad smiling men in dark cloaks."Not a word." He warned while his two companions laughed.
With the men gone from camp, for the time being, Djaq decided to confront Emma about her suspicions. Emma was leaning against one of the large boulders in-front of the cave staring off into the distance. Djaq come and sat next to the woman who startled a little by the sudden company.
"Are you with child?" Djaq asked getting right to the point.
"I was…am I guess," she answered "I do not know how such a small babe could survive through what I did, I barely made it."
"Do you know who the father is?"
"The Earl," Emma said with a venom tint to her words
"I though you said you were not his mistress." Djaq questioned further
"A mistress consents. I never consented to a thing that man did to me," Emma proclaimed with such passion that it startled Djaq. Then the passion was gone and lead to tears.
Marian watched as the looming walls of St. Hilda's convent came into view. The large stone walls were covered in many different kinds of vines; the only thing visible to the outside world was the Bell tower standing watch over the inhabitants.
As the coach neared the front gate the large wooden and iron door opened to present a small and elderly woman in her habit. She stood perfectly still her hands folded within the sleeves of her black robes. The carriage halted and Mary jumped up to let the guards come and unchain Marian. The sister walk toward the guards "I will take it from here thank you." In a voice that seemed far too big for such a petite lady.
Marian was grateful to have the heavy chains removed and the elderly nun placed a welcoming arm about her shoulders.
"Welcome to St. Hilda's Marian, I am the Abbess here."
"Hello, reverend mother," Marian greeted politely.
"I will lead you to your room and have you get settled." Marian nodded and helped Mary carry her trunk into the wall city of St. Hilda's
The room was in one of the first builds that made up what seem to be an entire village. When they entered there was another woman around Marian's age sitting by the window embroidering a handkerchief.
"Lady Rachel," the Abbess ordered. The lady turned, her blond hair shimmering in the sunlight, "Please show Lady Marian to her room, it is the one that Lady Daphne used."
"Of course Abbess," she stood and walked toward Marian, "Right this way Lady Marian," she was swept up the stairs to her chamber.
"There must be a lot of young ladies coming and going from St. Hilda's," Marian commented as Mary made her curtsey and left the two behind.
"Oh yes, many fathers send there daughters here once they are betrothed to secure their 'purity'," Rachel explained as she began to help Marian unpack.
"Is that why you are here?" Marian asked.
"Yes, my father betrothed me to his friend's eldest son, one day I will be the Countess of Norwich. What about you Lady Marian?"
"It was my 'would be' husband that sent me here."
"Is he truly that worried that you would not remain true?"
"It was more the fact I punch him and ran out of the church just before the vows."
"You did what?" Lady Rachel exclaimed in shock.
"He had lied to me about something extremely important and I found out the truth just in time."
"It must have been something truly horrible," Rachel whispered.
"Oh yes, it was."
"So Prince John has summoned a council of Lords?" Alan asked.
"Something must be going dreadfully wrong. There has not been a large summoning like this since the time of King Stephen- and that was to decide the line of kings," Robin informed his men. "This means we need to start some spy work. The Sheriff is one of Price John's most trusted minions. There must be a reason all these Lords are stopping in Nottinghamshire for nearly a week."
"A rat trying to hunt a rat," Will concluded.
"Precisely: when Much returns we will have another set of eyes and ears on the inside. I am sure the Earl will be among the lords, and reluctant to be in the den of the lions. Then once we figure out what is really going on in England, we will only have two more things to worry about." Robin's eyes drifted toward the tree tops and his gang watched on, waiting for an explanations.
"Robin what are you doing?" asked Alan.
"I am planning some abductions."
Much had finally made it to the small town of Radcliff on Trent and was asking about for a woman and her mother who had arrived not long ago. His questions lead him to a small cottage on the edge of town. Smoke curled up from the chimney and the smell of bread wafted from the open window. Much tied his mount to a tree and went to knock on the door.
When Eve heard the knock at the door so late at night she was more then a little panicked. She inched it open and the sight she saw was probably one of best in her life time. She flung open the door and wrapped her arms around Much. She brought the dazed man into the house and latched the door behind them.
"Much it is so good to see you." Eve whispered into her neck her arms still tightly wrapped around him. Much returned the affection, running his hand up and down her back. Eve's mother cleared her throat from her perch near the fire.
"Oh- hello ma'am."
"Hello my Lord." The elder woman smiled at him before going back to her knitting.
"Eve, I am afraid this visit is more for business then pleasure, though I have missed you very much."
"I know," she smiled, "but it is still lovely to see you again. What is it you need me to do?"
"Have you ever been to Dorchester?" Much asked.
Sir Edward sat in the study of his new London accommodations complete with view of the Thames and permanent guard. He sat wondering if his daughter was safely at St. Hilda's, if his people at Knighton were safe from the sheriff's wrath and what exactly had Price John so scared as to summon the Lords to a council. Perhaps Robin had gotten wind of what was happening and was planning to do something. Could something have happened in the Holy Land? Saints preserve us let King Richard be all right, he thought.
Maybe he could find a way to get letters to Robin and his other allies against the Sheriff. But in London there was no one he could truly trust.
"If the lords are coming to Nottingham then why is Much sending Eve to Dorchester?" asked Will as they gang, plus Emma who was still in need of much care, grouped around the fire.
"He did not know of the lords arrival," Robin grumbled slightly and ran his hands over is gruff face.
"You will need someone within the walls of Earl's house as well," Emma spoke up.
"What do you mean?" asked Alan.
"I was one of the Countess' main servants and that gave me a lot of power within the walls of the manor. If Eve is able to get half as much freedom as I was allowed she could be very useful."
"Do you know something about the Earl, Emma?" Robin questioned.
"Only that there was much talk of treason being spread through the Manor," she said. "The Earl is a man only interested in power; loyalty means nothing to him."
"Gisborne!" The sheriff's voice echoed out through the Halls. Soon the heavy falls of Sir Guy's boot could be heard rapidly approaching the room where the sheriff paced gripping a piece of parchment.
"You summoned me?" Gisborne wheezed slightly from his run form the stables; he had been preparing for the trip to St. Hilda's, his oppression with Marian had not been damped with her actions a fortnight ago.
"Look at this message I have just received." He tossed the paper at Guy who quickly scanned the tight and precise script of one of the overseas spies sent out by Prince John.
"The French are pulling troops out of the Holy Land?" he whispered in outrage.
"There are only two reasons for that," came the voice of the sheriff as Guy reread the message. "The French had declared surrender to the Turks, which we have no new of or…"
"They need there men for another war," finished Gisborne with darkened eyes.
Emma was having one of her nightmares. Alan watched as she moaned and twitched. He could not decide whether or not to wake her or just let her get whatever rest she could get. Suddenly she began to mumble words he could not quite make out. He inched closer to where she lay and the words she uttered kept him up all night.
"Please…please… not again…what about my baby…the baby…please."
A/N The next chapter in my little Robin Hood saga hope you enjoyed it
love moonfey