I waited an hour before I slowly snuck through the secret passages of the castle. I came into the darkness of the crowded dungeons where I saw Little John in his cell. I stayed in the shadow as they shoved his wife Alice into the same cell as her son and Luke the bow maker. Holding my breath I scanned the hall to see only the illuminated candlelight.

"John" I whispered as all heads perked up in my direction as he gasped and leant against the bar door as I ran over, constantly ensuring I wouldn't be spotted.

"Lady Esme! You can't be here!" He hissed as I rolled my eyes.

"I will try everything I can to ensure your family doesn't endure the punishment tomorrow." I whispered urgently as his eyes pleaded for help for his loved ones; however we both knew our hope maybe in vain.

"Robin has a plan…."I began before he gave me that your-kidding-me look as I scoffed."Okay, he has half a plan…..But I will talk to Gisborne tonight. I will come back when I have more information." I told as the sound of squeaking doors opening rung through causing my breath to catch in my throat.

"Thank you…..Hide!" He hissed as I gave his hand a quick squeeze before dashing to the other side of the room just in time. I drew a deep breath hiding in the shadows and sneaking through the secret passages before I found myself once again in my room. I dashed to my mirror, fixed my hair and straightened my dress before I made my way down to the dining room. One of the guards opened the door for me as I slowly walked in to find the Sheriff smiling evilly chatting about tomorrow and Guy, bored, playing with his goblet. They both glanced up as I entered the room, as Guy stood up smiling and pulled out my chair for me.

Giving a small smile I sat down beside him as I could see the Sheriff smirk making me slightly uncomfortable. Servant brought plates of food of cheese, meats and fruits as I sipped on my wine. I kept my discomfort of the Sheriff's manners to myself and kept my eyes on my plate and didn't speak unless I was spoken too. I hated keeping up my manners, my rebellious spirit detested every second of it. At one point I could see the Sheriff making Guy angry and frustrated as he gripped the side of his chair.

Slowly and unseen I placed my hand over his leather glove and gave it a gentle squeeze. His body stiffened at first before he caressed my hand with his thumb, I saw him relax into his chair as a small smile landed on my lips. I couldn’t hide it and I felt feelings bubble within in me as I wondered would marrying him be so bad? Yes! Yes it would! He's a murderer, yet that soft side captured me as I slowly wondered what Robin would think?

"Well I fancy some beauty sleep for tomorrow's entertainment" The Sheriff snickered as I felt my back straighten as Guy gently squeezed my hand as we stood up as he left the room. It grew quiet between us as I sat back down and watched as Guy refilled his goblet of wine and lent against the chair like throne that the Sheriff constantly occupied.

"I have a request to ask of you……and the Sheriff" I slowly began as his head perked up interested.

"Anything" He whispered lovingly as I hung my head and played with my fingers.

"The boy from Locksley.  The one with the bow maker………spare him please" I begged glancing up at him as his body stiffened.

"Esme, you know the Sheriff wants to make an example of them…." He began sighing deeply before I cut him off by the loud screech of my chair.

"But surely the boy innocent or not doesn't deserve torture." I pleaded, I heard my voice cracking slightly at the end as I know he noticed. Placing his cup on the table he drew closer towards me until he stood directly in front of me. I kept my eyes focused on the leather of his jacket and refused to meet him in the eyes.

"Esme…."His voice was pleading as I refused to look up at him until his gloved hand was placed under my chin making me look up into his eyes. I could feel tears brewing as a stray escaped down my right cheek. I let him brush it away, as neither of us spoke for a moment. "What is this really about?"

"I don't believe a child should be subjugated to torture for a crime inflicted by his family. No one innocent or guilty at his age should be forced to face a whip……They should be kept safe and not be tormented with the horror for the rest of their life…." I tried explaining as my body shook slightly remembering the sound of my mother's screams. I felt his warm strong hands holding my forearms as I glanced my vision down once more.  He bent slightly trying to find my eyes however I looked away.

"I wished someone could have granted me that mercy……don't inflict it on the boy like it was to the innocent" I whispered, ignoring the tears running down my face before I broke from his grip and ran towards my bedroom. I knew he was stunned by the fact he wasn't calling after me as I dove onto my bed and cried, trying to erase the memories from my soul. But the scars made it impossible.

Early in the morning I washed, dressed, redid my hair and snuck through towards the dungeons. Nearly everyone was sleeping as I slowly drew closer to Little John's cell. His eyes opened quickly when he heard me. His wife and son along with the bow maker were sleeping, it looked uncomfortable but I turned my attention back to Little John as he sighed deeply.

"I'm sorry" I whispered as he just nodded his head.

"You tried. That’s enough for me……" He spoke glancing over towards his family as I bit my bottom lip.

"I'll try and get excused for this afternoon. If I don’t see Robin then the Nightwatchman will just have to interfere" I whispered as he shook his head in refusal.

"Robin will murder you if you got hurt" He hissed as I rolled my eyes.

"I don’t care what Robin does or says! I won't let a young boy experience the whip!" I snapped as he narrowed his eyes towards me. However before our conversation could even continue the sound of keys rattling made me jump to my feet and flee. Just when I was able to make it back to my room a knock echoed as I straightened my dress and opened the door to the messenger.

"The entertainment will begin shortly my Lady" He informed as she nodded. He went to leave only to be called back.

"Where is Guy?" I asked eagerly. I must admit I hated the urgent tone in my voice but I concealed it.

"He left early this morning my Lady" He bowed as I nodded before slowly, taking my time drew towards the Great Hall. I walked in to find the Sheriff sits on a chair on a dais under the balcony, facing a line of peasants in front of the fireplace. In front of them stands a covered table. The nobles sit in rows on the other side of the hall, facing the peasants. When I walked in the Sheriff smirked and patted the seat to his left as I slowly sat down. I noticed the seat to his right was empty and wondered if it was reserved for Guy. At the far end of the room is a covered contraption and in front of it, a bed of hot coals. I winced seeing these instruments of pain before me.

"Good morning, everybody, and welcome to my Festival of Pain. I want to talk to you about community taxes. Taxes are a fact. The cost of living in a free country. Now, if you do not pay your taxes then you sacrifice that freedom and must be punished accordingly." The Sheriff announced as he stood up from his throne like chair. I glanced round and noticed that Little John is still in the pillory and his son Little Little John and Alice sit near him, and Luke on the other side of Alice. The Sheriff began to walk past the prisoners, whose heads are bowed in submission, talking and carrying a clove-riddled orange.

"I am sick and tired of your sob stories. Can’t pay, too old, too sick." He spoke as I watched, scowling slightly. The Sheriff pulls Little Little John up by his hair as his father winces, unable to do anything.

"Is this going to help our beloved King in Acre, hm?" The Sheriff puts him down and grabs the back of Little John’s hair, chuckling evilly.

"A clue." The Sheriff shakes Little John’s head by his hair as Little John stares out defiantly. I could see just how much he wanted to murder the Sheriff as I squirmed slightly in my chair uncomfortable.

"Noooo. Those who understand this..."The Sheriff spoke before he paused and rubs his palm on Luke’s shirt, smelling the orange as Luke winces. "... they will survive."

Suddenly he steps towards the contraption.

"For those who defy me, well..." Walks forward, pulling a rope which lifts the cover off the contraption. Points back at it with his finger"... the chair of delight."

The nobles and prisoners gasp in horror as the cover is lifted. I sat up straighter, gaping in disbelief. The Sheriff smiles. I saw Little John whisper something towards his family as his son slowly started to hide behind him making my stomach drop. He was innocent!

"These prisoners do not pay their way." He started as he points at Luke, Alice and her son. "They help those that seek to undermine my authority." He continued whilst putting his head in an iron spiked ring suspended from the ceiling. I wished it would just get stuck in there and then he could feel the pain of torture.

"Therefore, they must all be punished." He spoke in a fake strained voice as he makes a strained face as he squeezes the ring in, then lets it go and giggles.

"Now..." The Sheriff clicks his fingers and a guard hurries over.

"... do you think that they’re the only ones to suffer? Do you?" He and the guard remove the cover from the table to reveal it loaded with torture instruments. The nobles and prisoners gasp again. I struggled to keep my composure in my seat whenever he turned to watch me as I winced in my chair. I could hear my screams, my mother's cries; I could feel the heat and pain of a whip on my back as I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.

"No, no, no. No, because they do not pay their dues, we, the good citizens, well, we have to pay more, hm? And how on earth are we supposed to support our King’s glorious crusade?" The Sheriff and the guard fold the cloth lengthwise. The guard walks forwards to fold the cloth again and takes it from the Sheriff as he muttered a small 'Thank you' to the guard who stood in the corner holding the cloth in front of him. I watched closely as the Sheriff took his seat beside me once more.

"If they were to pay their taxes, then we in the community would pay less. So you see, what I’m actually trying to do... is lower taxes, hm? Ha! Hm. Well, I’m feeling strangely moral." He chuckled at his own comment as I was starting to feel quiet queasy.

"I’m feeling quite unwell. I think I might— " I whispered as I began to stand up to leave only to have the Sheriff interrupt me and hold out an orange without even looking at me.

"Yes, probably the peasants, the stench. Here. Sniff this if it gets too much." He spoke as I reluctantly sit back down again and sniff at the orange. I caught Little John and Will's eye as I sighed and shrugged. I was beginning to feel the urge to throw up as I struggled to hold in my composure.

"So, let’s bring the prisoners out and start with a little burning, hm? Now, you people seem to think that Robin Hood and his men, they’re worthy of your support and your encouragement. Well, we’ll see." The sheriff smirked as I looked up and caught Alice's gaze as two guards take Luke. The guards leave Luke bending over the hot coals and return for Little Little John making me whimper slightly but it went unnoticed.

"Luke, the cooper of Locksley." The sergeant announced as I saw the Sheriff drum his fingers on the side of his chair.

"Outlaw collaborator." The Sheriff added as one guard picks up Little Little John as the other stands behind Alice.

"No!" Alice cried out as the other guard grabs her and she puts her hand on Little John’s. I couldn’t hear what she said as I grew slightly fearful watching as Alice is dragged to the hot coals and thrown down beside her son at the edge of the coals.

"Alice of Locksley and her son, John." The sergeant announced once again as I turned towards the Sheriff with a pleading gaze but he refused to look at me or acknowledge me.

"Outlaw sympathizers." He muttered as I gulped.

"Please, they had nothing to do with this. It is my doing." Luke begged out trying to reason with the Sheriff as a guard kicks Luke and it is all he can do to keep from falling onto the coals.

"Oh, gallantry. You see, Esme, it’s not dead. Well, not yet." The Sheriff chuckles darkly as I stare miserably at the Sheriff, who stands and walks to Luke as the nobles exchange glances.

" Such a gallant intervention, hm? I wonder..."The Sheriff has one hand each on Luke and Little Little John, pushing them towards the coals. He looks up at me as I hide any emotion from my face, knowing I couldn't let him win this battle as much as it hurt to watch.

"I wonder how I could reward that, hm?" He teased as I frown bleakly. The Sheriff picks up Little Little John by the hair as he cried out making me stiffen in my seat.

" Oh, I wonder. Shall we have him crawl in the coals first, hm?" Little John tries desperately to get loose.

"So gallant in the heat of the moment. Oh, so gallant." Luke is struggling to get free and the Sheriff lets Little Little John go. Alice grabs her son.

"Shall the bowmaker go first or the apprentice? Tuts. Decisions, decisions." The Sheriff walks past Little John, who is still straining at the pillory. Suddenly by a snap of his fingers Little Little John and Alice are being held over the coals. Alice screams loudly causing me to shudder and shiver slightly as I had to close my eyes and hold onto the chair tightly as if I was scared to be dragged towards the punishment table and experience it all over again.

"So, who’s first? The boy! Burn him! Burn him!" The Sheriff sang as I wanted to cry out terrified of the monster beside me as Luke continues to struggle.

"No!!!" Little John suddenly shouted as he stood up and roared. I watched as he strains at his pillory at first before he snapped it like a twig and growled at the soldiers ready to attack him.

"You are a dead man!" He roared as he charges at the Sheriff whose eyes widened in fear. The coward!

"Stop him, you fools!" He cried out as two guards grab Little John just as Robin enters the hall from the upper doorway making me take in a sigh of relief only to notice he was reaching into a sack.

"Charity starts at home, Vaizey!" He shouted as I watched Robin throws out a handful of coins as Allan appears beside him with another sack.

"Not in my home! Kill him!" He whined annoyed as I smile at the sight of the coins raining down in front of me. Robin and Allan laugh as they throw more coins. I had to raises an arm to deflect them from my head, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation before me. As I stood and looked up at Robin we both smiled at each other as I saw Little John run towards his family. I took this time to escape the room and dash towards the gardens and engulfed the fresh air to clear my head. I hadn't noticed the tears running down my face until I clutched my stomach and bent over to be sick……