Chapter 3

I gasped. Hundreds of soldiers encircled me and William. They were armed with crossbows and swords. Some of the officers had guns too! I backed myself behind William. I looked up to his face, hoping to see reassurance. His face was expressionless and hard. The guards started to move forward, but at the officers command they stopped.
We don t know if he has changed her, one spoke to the men. He looked at me, Take them both captive and we will have the Priest check her. He waved his hand in the air and the soldiers shackled us. I tears began to sting at my eyes. If either of us goes free, it must be him, I thought gravely. I wouldn t be able to survive without him. They mounted us on horses and we were off. The trip seemed endless. They had put William and I on separate horses and every moment I was separated from him, the more my heart ached. We finally arrived to the castle, William s father and mine waiting at the door. My father s face was stricken with grief when he saw me, and anger when he saw William. Fear churned in the pit of my stomach. He probably thinks William kidnapped me, I thought dreadfully. Cautiously, my father approached me, his guards, hands on sword, followed. I gulped. Do they think I ve changed? I thought incredulously. My hands still bound, I leapt to the ground to stand in front of my father. His guards immediately jumped in front of him. I scowled at them, and shoved my way past. When I was face-to-face with my father, his skin turned pale and he began to tremble.
Are you ill, father? I asked worriedly. He seemed to relax a little and had stopped shaking. He let out a sigh of relief and hugged me. Why are you just standing there? He barked at the officers, Release her! You can plainly see she is not changed. Clumsily, the soldiers unbound my shackles and quietly backed away. One of the officers came up to my father.
What do you want to do with that? He asked with narrow eyes. He pointed to William. I looked at my father with pleading eyes. He shook his head at me.
Send him to the dungeon, He said harshly, I would like to deal with him myself. The officer bowed his head and ordered his men to do as my father wished. I pulled myself away from my father and ran to William.
You won t take him! I screamed through my tears, I wont let you! the officer laughed.
Why is that princess? He sneered. I glared at him. I didn t care what they all thought of me for loving a warlock. To me, William was William, no matter how much he changed. I couldn t bring myself to say this thought, there were too many people there. I lowered my head.
I thought so, The officer said smugly. He told his guards to throw him in the dungeon and pushed my aside. I felt like crying all over again, but for how much I had already cried that day I didn t think I could shed one more tear. I looked at William, his face was hard with hate and his eyes were a blaze. I looked back down and walked solemnly to the castle. Everyone came and gave thanks for my return, but I paid no attention to them. I walked quietly to my quarters and plopped down on the bed. I stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours when I heard a small knock at the door. Come in, I said hoarsely. My father quietly walked in and sat on the edge of my bed.
I m sorry sweet heart, He said, But he is a warlock and But nothing! I interrupted, I could care less about him being a warlock! He s still the same William! I hang my head dejectedly. I I love him, I whispered. My father looked at me differently then.
Are are you He stammered, Changed? I looked at him with shock. He thinks My mind tried to comprehend. I shook my head.
No, I haven t changed. I said defiantly, I loved him before he was a warlock, and I still do. I felt a warm feeling inside. I had to see William.
Father? I asked. Yes, sweetheart? he replied, his tone suspicious. I sat up straight.
I want to go see William, I demanded. He sighed heavily.
I suppose you would go whether I like it or not? he asked. I nodded. He sighed again. Will you at least take a few guards? I glared at him slightly. Fine, but can you at least wait a week or two? I grinned. I didn t care if it was a while before I saw William, just as long as I could. I jumped up and hugged him whispering, Thank you.

The days passed slowly, each one seeming longer than before. I stared out my window and sighed dreamily. I couldn t keep myself from thinking of William and me together. I heard a tenuous knock at my door.
Come in, I said as I straightened myself up. It was my father. He had a kind of sheepish smile on his face. He nodded his head out toward the door. A large smile emerged on my face. I hadn t smiled in so long, it almost hurt! I leapt from my seat, hugged my father, and dashed out the room.
Finally, after dodging many servants and guards, I reached the dungeon. It had an unearthly smell that sent shivers down my spine. I carefully picked up a small torch, and started down a long, ghostly corridor. The stone stairs were so slick I was surprised I hadn t fallen. I came into a large opening and heard a low mumbling sound and stopped. W William? I stammered, Are you there? The mumbling soon turned into a growling sound. I shuddered. I saw a heavy-looking brown door at the end of the hall I had come into. I walked to it slowly, hoping that the growling wasn t coming from it. The growling grew louder as I approached the door. I gulped and lightly placed my hand on the door. The door reminded me of the feel of sandpaper.
William? I asked cautiously. I growling stopped for a moment, but then resumed. I closed my eyes and, praying, opened the door. I heard shuffling from the inside, but I still did not open my eyes. I suddenly felt hard, cold hands on my shoulders. Before I could open my eyes I was lifted off the ground and shoved against the slick wall. I gasped. What are you doing here? A semi-familiar voice said. The voice was harsh and brutal, as well as his strength. I struggled a bit, only to be pushed into the wall more. The rocks were jagged and rough on my back. I wanted to scream but thought better of it. W William? I stuttered. I was worried I had gone into a real prisoner s cell. Then the pain in my back lessened as I was pulled away from the wall. Gently, I was seated on the stone floor. Cecilia, The voice said solemnly, Why did you come? It s too dangerous for you to be with me, and I m sure the guards will he stopped. I hugged him. I knew it was William, even if I couldn t see his face. I pulled him into a hug a cried joyfully. I was with William again, and nothing would keep us apart.
I I started to speak, but was cut off by the sound of rushing feet and loud, boisterous voices. William pulled me closer.
There probably here for me, I said sadly. I looked into his eyes once more, then got up and left the room.

***************************

I bumped into the guards and gasped. They were all armed with numerous weapons and torches, and they were heading straight to William s cell. They saw me and immediately stopped. The leader of the group, I presumed, walked up to me.
Excuse me, miss, He said curtly, But we have been ordered to take Prince William to see the king. I glared at him suspiciously.
For what? I asked demandingly.
For his trial, miss, He said with a nasty smile, Today we will decide if no, when we will execute him. He laughed roughly and all the other men joined in. I stared at him in shock, and, little by little, they all crowded around William s cell. I heard loud scuffling come from William s cell, and the sound of someone being hit numerous times before I saw them drag William out. He had bruises forming everywhere on him and a few cuts, too. When they passed, all I wanted to do was take William and run away with him, run away far from any castle just so we could be together. He didn t look at me at all, he kept his head down in shame is seemed. The guards were holding their heads and shoulders high, as if they were proud to have bested a warlock. I scowled at them as they walked away. Minutes after they disappeared down the corridor, I sighed. I would have to go to the trail myself for William s defense. I sighed again. I doubted anyone would believe me. Who would believe someone who everyone else thought had been changed? Overwhelmed, I headed to the Royal Court, where my life would be changed forever.

*******************************

I seated myself next to my father, and the trial began. William was bound in a cage a cage nearly six feet away from the king. Hundreds of peasants, knights, servants, maids, and the occasional nomad had gathered for the trial. I was about to run out of the room when the court was called to order. The trumpets sounded, announcing the king.
Alright, He began, We all know why we are here, correct? Not waiting for an answer he continued. We are here to discuss whether we let this warlock go, or have him executed. I know that most, if not all, of you are thinking Spare a warlock? or What good has a warlock ever done for us? Well, we have this trial to decide whether or not he is guilty of kidnapping Princess Cecilia. He nodded in my direction. Several faces turned toward me. I kept a steady face and continued to listen to the king. Cecilia, dear? Will you please come up here and tell everyone what happened on the night of your kidnapping? I nodded slowly. I remembered very little of that night, only finding William. Does that mean he kidnapped me? I wondered as I approached the king. I turned and face the crowd.
I remember very little the night it happened, but I do remember that I had seen some portal, you could say, open in my room. I heard several gasps from the crowd. But it wasn t a warlock that appeared. It was the crowd waited in silence. I don t know what it was really. The man was suited in pitch black armor and his sword was also black but it had a hazy red glow around it. The man s hair was a snow grey color that matched his eyes. I stopped. The crowd was staring at me in shock silence until some burst out laughing.
Your describing a blood knight, you know, A man laughed and turned to the crowd, And we all know those don t exist. He laughed again, the crowd joining him. I looked down, ashamed. Suddenly, the ground shook with such force, William s cage toppled over nearly crushing a guard. I looked around frantically for something to hold, and then it stopped. Everyone listened in dead silence. Are the Blood Knights here? I thought worriedly. For some unknown reason, there was screaming in every direction. The building set ablaze and was quickly being consumed by the fire. The lock on William s cage melted and he was freed. He dashed out the room and I quickly followed suit. Villagers were running and screaming in every direction. Why does this seem awfully familiar? I wondered. I looked frantically for William. Then I saw him. He was face-to-face with what looked like the Blood Knights leader. I gulped. I felt this warm feeling inside me again, but thought nothing of it. William had started to charge the leader. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see my beloved William killed. Unexpectedly, I felt the urged to jump in front of William and protect him. There was a warm feeling inside me, and then it stopped. I opened my eyes. Everything around me seemed to have stopped, as if everything had frozen. I walked up to where William was and stopped in front of him. I reclosed my eyes and everything moved again. I felt William abruptly try to stop. I could feel the anger radiating off of him like the fires. The leader looked at me with an awestruck look. Then he shook his head and charged again. William tried to jump in front of me, I was not sure if he was trying to protect me or to satisfy his bloodlust. I started to outstretch my hand, but stopped midway. My hand seemed to be glowing. I felt the warm feeling inside of me again. This time I used it. I let that feeling flow throughout my body, its warmness all but consuming me. My skin grew brighter until there was an unexpected bright light come from it. The leader disappeared. I looked on, astonished. William had stopped trying to get past me when I started to glow and now looked at me with big, round eyes. All the other blood knights seemed to have noticed their leader s disappearance and fled. Everyone started staring at me. I looked at all of them with a confused look. I glanced down at my feet and nearly screamed. I was floating in mid-air. My sea-blue dress had turned white with a golden border. I looked at the crowd with a frantic look. My father looked at me, amazed, as everyone else did. I looked at William, even he seemed shocked. She s an angel, the priest said just above a whisper. I looked at him with wide eyes. An angel? I thought incredulously. I glanced behind me and stared. I had solid white wings that stretched . William started to slowly back away. I thought of being far away from here, just me and William. I closed my eyes and felt a rush of wind. I reopened them and I was in my father s and I spring cottage. I felt cold hands grab me from behind and screamed. The hands let go immediately. I spun around in shock and let out a relieved sigh. It was only William. His hands were covering his ears tightly.
What s wrong, William? I asked.
Your scream is more painful than you think, He said through clenched teeth.
Oh, I replied. William looked at me and his eyes nearly pooped out of his head. I threw him a questioning look.
Never mind, He said quickly, So why did you bring me here? He was glaring at me intently. I looked down at my feet. No reason, huh? He laughed. He walked over to the polished cabinets and took out an apple. I felt tears starting to form and brushed them away hastily. He walked to the small balcony and sat in one of the soft, white chairs. I cautiously walked to the other chair by William and sat down. I resumed looking at my feet. After a few minutes of silence, I looked up. William was staring at me again. Knowing he wouldn t answer why he was staring at me, I got up and went back inside. It had been a long day, and night was falling. I walked into my room, got dressed for bed, and cried.