- Chapter 53 -

I began making my way down towards the courtyard as I found that I had a grumpy yellow-and-black uniformed man on her tail as I growl. Great Guy had put a guard back on me whilst being trapped in the castle. As I walked over towards Guy who was standing near the corridor entrance I saw that Matilda, a physician who was a great friend of mine and Robin's was gagged and being escorted halfway down the steps by two guards as the nobles of the area assemble at the bottom, with the Sheriff standing beside her.

"My lords! Matilda, here, somehow managed to bring a patient of hers back from the dead. So, what do we have here, hm? Do we have a healer?" The Sheriff shouted out as I frowned.

"What’s happening?" I whisper to Guy beside me as he holds a finger to his lips to silence me as I frown harder. Glancing back over I saw Matilda in discomfort as we both engaged eye contact as she shook her head slightly.

"Or do we have something else? Hm? A necromancer? Devil worshipper? No. A witch!" The Sheriff exclaimed as he stood behind her, grabbing Matilda’s shoulders. The crowd gasped around us as I hissed annoyed and shocked. A witch? A claim like that is a solid death sentence.

"She’s not a witch." I hissed truthfully as Guy beside me glares down at me out of the corner of his eye.

"So, perhaps a ducking in Locksley pond would calm all our nerves." The Sheriff offered as the crowd cheered and cursed her being a witch as went to exclaim but I saw Guy's uncomfortable body structure.

"Guy, you know she’s not a witch." I hissed up towards him as suddenly I didn't expect for Guy to turn sharply towards me and roughly grab my forearm and push me back into the corridor. OUCH!

"Esme, say nothing. These allegations spread by association." He warned as I stared at him in disbelief.

"The ducking stool’s a death sentence, you know that." I protested.

"There’s nothing you can do for her!" Guy growls lowly so no one hears as he turns to leave only to have me reach for him as he turns back.

"Did I leave you to die... when you were being drowned? Guy! Guy!" I questioned as he turned and left as I tried calling out to him though he had his goon intercept me to prevent myself from following him. I huffed angrily as I watched the distressed Matilda snarl down at the Sheriff. Maybe if I was accused of being a witch then Guy would try and save me? Who was I kidding even if he loved me he wouldn't save me if it meant putting his own neck on the chopping block? Would he? I felt my heart drop as I didn't know the answer any more.

"To Locksley!" The Sheriff exclaims loudly as Matilda was dragged out in front with the crowd hissing at her and throwing holy water as though it would damage the devil 'within her'. I quickly left to head back to my chamber tying my cloak around my neck. I placed my hair in a bun pinned back by my small dagger. I could hear the sound of retreating horses as I knew that I had a few moments to sneak off to the forest as the main party had already left for Locksley.

Running swiftly to the stables I mounted my horses and refused to wait for my escort as I took off through the town. I dashed towards to Sherwood Forest along the road as I glanced over my shoulder making sure I had no one behind me as I continued to urge my horse down the road.

"Robin!" I shouted out through the forest as I saw Robin running as fast as he can to the road, bouncing off a tree in the process, and waits breathlessly for me to arrive to the spot he had stopped.

"Robin! Matilda! The Sheriff knows she helped you. She’s refusing to tell them how to wake Henry up and they’re having her ducked as a witch!" I cried out as I saw the fear and shock on his face as I pulled the horse to a sudden halt as it neighed in discomfort.

"When?"

"Now! At Locksley pond! Call your men. I have to go before I’m missed! Robin, hurry! Hurry!" I shouted as I turned my horse around and started to gallop towards Locksley. I slowed down slightly as I made my way into the village where I saw there was everything set up by the pond. Matilda, with a soldier on each side, is dragged past the church towards the pond.

The ducking stool is a contraption made of two long-armed frames connected to a rotating fulcrum, with a chair suspended from one of the arms and four black-hooded executioners working the other side. A dais has been set up facing the pond between the machine and the manor; on it are three chairs: the Sheriff ’s high-backed one, and another to either side. A small table with a bowl of fruit stands next to the Sheriff ’s chair.

Guy sat in his chair on the right hand side of the Sheriff as I knew the empty left chair from the Sheriff was reserved for me as I drew the horse to a halt causing him to loudly neigh. A few nobles sit on either side of the dais, watching. Blight stands behind the nobles to the Sheriff ’s left. The Sheriff stands, waiting as I noticed that Henry sat in another empty chair.

"Lords, ladies... peasants." The Sheriff begins.

"Have a look at this noble man. He returned from the dead possessed! The witch shall be ducked! If she dies, it proves the devil has abandoned her and she shall be buried on consecrated ground." The Sheriff shouted out loudly as he pointed towards a delusional Henry. I saw that Matilda starts to panic as her chair is raised and moved over the water.

"If she lives, showing the devil still to be in her, she shall be burnt alive! Hard to know which one to hope for." The Sheriff chuckles as I snarl towards him. Guy noticed me as he easily jumped up from his seat and gave me a hand to dismount as I gave a slight nod as we quietly took our seats.

"Ah! Down she goes! Deep breath." The Sheriff chuckles as I watch as Matilda sucks in her breath as the chair is lowered towards the pond and someone cries out a protest. I noticed that beside me the Sheriff sucks in and holds his breath mockingly. Matilda goes under the water as I bite my lower lip hoping that Robin is nearby. The Sheriff lets out his breath and pops a grape into his mouth. Time passes as I knew the nobles, the peasants and I watch anxiously as bubbles rise from the water. The Sheriff raises his hand and Matilda is pulled up.

"You weasel-faced whore’s son!" Matilda screamed out as she sucks in air and coughs as I struggle not to laugh out and smile at her remark at the Sheriff.

"Sorry, who, Robin? No, Robin’s not here! And three, two, one. Deep breath. Deep breath!" The Sheriff laughs again as I noticed that Blight is thoroughly enjoying the moment as I stare despairingly at the bubbling water. As we waited the Sheriff beside me was constantly humming as I rolled my eyes at his immaturity.

The Sheriff motions down to the men controlling the chair and giggles as Matilda is raised up slightly, then lowered down again. The bubbles stop. The Sheriff raises his hand and Matilda is pulled up, her head hanging. There is a long moment as I, shakes my head sadly poor Matilda and turn my head away before Matilda suddenly flips her head up and roars. At this sudden moment everybody jumps shocked as I smiled brightly knowing Robin was near and had a plan making sure that Matilda stayed alive.

"I curse you! May snakes crawl up your nose holes and feed on your tiny brain!" She hissed as I saw the Sheriff squirm which made me smirk with satisfaction.

"Down! Down, down!" The Sheriff screams out as Matilda is lowered, teeth clenched and glaring at the Sheriff as he watches her go down. The sheriff waited unexceptionally long time as I saw beginning to grow bored and restless. Hopefully it was plenty of time however to get Matilda to safety.

"Let’s lift up the carcass. Ten....... nine... eight... seven... six... five..." The Sheriff childishly giggles and sings out as the nobles reluctantly join in the countdown at the Sheriff ’s encouragement. I leant forward in my chair eager to hopefully see that Matilda had escaped as I noticed slightly something moving in the corner of my eye. Turning my head slightly I saw that Will and Allan peer out from behind a nearby wagon and silently run up behind Henry’s chair, one on either side.

".... four... three... two... and a half !... one... and a half !... and bring her up!" The Sheriff calls out as Matilda’s chair is raised, empty except for some cloth on the seat. The nobles and peasants step forward, stunned, as Allan and Will tip back Henry’s chair and silently take him away. I cannot suppress my smile as the Sheriff is completely outraged.

"What the devil is that, Blight?" The Sheriff shouted out angrily as he grabbed hold of Blight by the collar and pointed towards the ducking chair where the cloths were currently sitting.

"I... I suspect they may be her under wrappings, my lord." He shyly and embarrassingly speaks as I snort back my laughter at their discomfort as the Sheriff shoves him into the pond angrily as he splashes and struggles to make his way back to the edge.

"Shut up. Shut up! Arrest... Arrest...Gisborne! Henry’s gone! Gisborne! Henry’s gone!" The Sheriff cries out furious as he turns around to the empty upturned chair in which was once occupied by Henry. Pretending to be shocked Guy turned sharply and immediately began shouting out orders towards the guards. The Sheriff looks around desperately for any sign of outlaws before huffing and making our way back to Nottingham……..