"Stay with me," the little seamstress begged. Sydney could not help but take her in his arms. Somehow this sweet little girl had given him the strength he needed to face his death. He had found his own strength, by her asking for it.
As they went through the streets of Paris he kept a constant hold on her hands, and their eyes never left each other. How strange, she thought to herself, I am on my way to my own execution, and yet I feel as happy as a bride on her way to the altar. I have never been in love before... and yet now, moments before my death, I am in love. I am truly, completely, utterly in love. All of this madness suddenly seems worthwhile, as I have found the man I was meant to love with all my heart and soul.
The cart they were on slowed and she felt her heart skip a beat. Their time was almost up. She clung closer to him and he instinctively took her in his arms. The crowds were shouting all around them and yet she did not hear them. All she could think of was this wonderful man that had magically come into her life at the very last moment.
*SWISH* *CHOP*
The awful sound of the guillotine sounded.
*SWISH* *CHOP*
She shuddered. "Do not tremble," he said - more with his eyes than his lips. He laid a comforting hand on her shoulders, and suddenly, she did not tremble. "Keep your eyes on me, only on me." Did he say those words out loud or did she just understand them? It did not seem to matter. She understood him, and he her. This should have been the most terrifying moment of her life and yet she was somehow happy.
*SWISH* *CHOP*
She turned towards the sound but he caught her arm. "Do not look away from me," he told her. "Keep your eyes on me. Only on me." She was happy to obey. How easy it was to look into his warm eyes and see the strength that she so desperately needed. His arms were strong, and his eyes were warm. He was on the way to death as well, and yet he did not seem to mind. His whole concern was with her, and making sure that she would be alright. They had only met moments ago, and yet she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was utterly, completely, and hopelessly in love with him.
*SWISH* *CHOP*
The blade fell again just as their wagon pulled to a stop.
Ever since she had been convicted she had dreaded this moment. She remembered hearing the dreadful sounds of the convicted enemies of the republic. She had long ago shed tears for the people that had lost their lives to the republic... yet she had never thought... never dreamt that those tears would have led her mistress to denounce her, and declare her an enemy of the republic. Was she wrong to have shed those tears? She sometimes wondered. Yet it was against her very nature to hear that awful sound of death and not be saddened.
This beautiful man that held her arms steady made her feel, for the first time, that it was alright. It was all alright. She felt loved... truly loved.
*SWISH* *CHOP*
She could feel herself tensing again, yet this beloved man's arms warmed her. Oh please, she sent up a prayer to God, do not let us be separated for long. Please let us be together forever, and not have to suffer alone.
"I'm not afraid of anything, while I hold your hand," she said. He smiled at her. "When I let it go, will it be quick?"
"Yes," he promised with a warmth in his eyes. He still held her fingers just as tightly.
"Evremond!" a voice shouted. A fear held her heart.
"Is it time?" she asked, still clutching his hand.
"Yes," he said calmly, almost smiling at her.
No, she thought to herself. No, he cannot go first. I would be alone then, and he is my strength.
"Would they let me go first?" she asked. He half smiled.
"Citizen, can she go first?" he asked.
The man agreed and within a moment the man with the kind eyes had her in his arms and kissed her passionately.
He loves me, she could tell. He loves me as I love him. She kissed him back with all her heart and soul, even as the guards pulled them apart. She knew they would never really be apart. His soul was with hers.
She climbed the stairs to the scaffold, and yet her eyes never left his.
He smiled at her. Yes, smiled. He was at peace, and wanted her to have peace as well. She took the last step up the scaffold, feeling his eyes, his support, and his love upon her. She did not look at the executioners, nor did she pay any mind as they told her to gather her hair up in her arms as she prepared to kneel down... all she could think of was that wonderful man with the kind eyes who gave her love - true love - when she most needed it.
The crowds were yelling all sorts of dreadful things, yet she paid no mind. She was beyond their hurts now. She laid down onto the board, and prepared to be pushed into the frame when...
*SWOOSH*
No chop.
She hadn't been pushed into the frame, so how could the blade have fallen? There was a gray smoke all around and she could not see. What had happened? She felt dazed and almost drugged... she collapsed yet she felt someone catch her. Still dizzy, she was vaguely aware of being carried away as the smoke still hid them from view.
She remembered making a desperate effort to try and see what was happening... it was the last memory she had before she fainted.