The Execution
The mid-day sun started to shine down onto the land as sole ruler of Beruemore stood before the window of her bedchamber. She studied her kingdom from high up in the castle, silently observing the people as they went about their daily lives. She absently tapped her figure to a steady beat, a habit she developed while she watched over her kingdom.
"Lady Tasmine, would you like for me to prepare some bear meat for your supper today?" Her man servant asked.
"No thank you, I'm not hungry today Marques." The monarch softly replied, dismissing him. The man servant raised a questioning eyebrow, but said nothing as he silently left the room.
Tasmine sighed as she took off her crown. She gently set it on her end table and finally collapsed onto her bed. Tasmine took in a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut.
Today has been a busy day for this monarch no doubt. With rewriting laws, some pretty tense peace treaty negotiations and holding court for hours on end, Tasmine was exhausted to say the least. But her day wasn't over quiet yet, there was still one more job to do before she can fully relax. It was the job Lady Tasmine has been dreading for weeks now: The Execution of Spy Rosalinda. Tasmine groaned as she sat back up. She would do anything to avoid this execution, but her hands were tied.
There was a knock on her door. Tasmine got up, quickly straightened her light pink throne dress and putting her silver crown back on once again.
"Come in" the monarch was both saddened and surprise to see her head knight enter her bedchambers.
"Lady Tasmine the Illustrious" the Commander greeted, fully bowing to the monarch. Tasmine's heart sank by the extreme formalness; they knew each other better than that.
"Zucuo you know to save that for the foreign leaders" Tasmine said. The knight nodded his head, but said nothing. An eerie silence fell between them.
"…I cannot spare her life Zucuo, you know that." The Commander remained silent. Tasmine looked up into his eyes, but they held no evidence of his emotions or what he could possibly be thinking. Zucuo walked pasted her and stared out the window.
"It's almost cruel don't you think." He finally said after a few minutes of silence.
"What is?"
"This is the second time you've kept me from marrying the woman I love, my lady." Tasmine felt the sadness stabbing at her heart. She rested a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Zucuo; I have never meant to hurt you." She whispered. Zucuo gently grasped the hand resting on his shoulder and turned to the monarch.
"I thought I would never be able to love another the way I loved you, Tasmine." Zucuo grimaced at the wedding band on Tasmine's figure. "And when I finally find another I could spend the rest of my life with, she gets sentenced to death." Zucuo looked Tasmine into the eye. "I sometimes wonder about that my lady." The queen took her hand out of his.
"I've always wanted you to be happy Zucuo," Tasmine snapped, holding back tears. "You know that." The dark hair knight sadly looked away from the beautiful woman he loved. Seeing his distress, Tasmine felt a pang in her heart.
"If I could let her free I would." She whispered. The head guard looked back at his queen. "But she betrayed Beruemore; she put you, me, and the entire kingdom into serious danger. She committed high treason. And the punishment is-,"
"Death." Commander Zucuo finished. "I know." Suddenly he pulled Lady Tasmine into a tight embrace. "I know." He repeated, but in a broken whisper. Tasmine hugged Zucuo back.
"I wish that we could be together." Tasmine mumbled into her knight's chest.
"Do you mean it?" He asked. Tasmine looked up into his eyes. But before she could reply a there was a knock on the door. The knight and monarch hastily broke apart. Tasmine straightened her dress out of habit.
"Come in." She ordered. A young house maid nervously opened the door.
"My lady," The young girl bowed "The time has come upon us for the execution. Your advisor sent me to alert you, my lady."
"Thank you." Tasmine dismissed. The girl made another bow and hastily left.
"It is time." Zucuo gravely remarked.
"Indeed," Tasmine agreed. "It is time."
