Hello everyone! Oh I know it's been far too long, but I intend to finish this and by George I will. Here's chapter 30, and for those of you who will decide to finish it, I thank you. The others who don't, please forgive me for procrastinating on this. I'm horrible, I know. So without further ado.
Chapter 30
CHPOV
The room had grown eerily silent, as I took in the faces of the equally petrified but curious courtiers before me. Below me kneeled the girl I raised as my own, whom I once called daughter and held with such high regard. Behind me laid my blood daughter, one whose laughter filled my heart with love beyond comprehension. I was torn between hurt and compassion, but Mary Alice had crossed a dangerous line and now was time to put an end to this all.
Clearing my throat, I spoke to the awaiting crowd. "For some weeks, we had received word that a there was a plot against the crown of both England and France. And as allies to the very end, we sought to find the culprits no matter who they were." Alice's head rose, forcing me to turn in her direction.
"Do you know how much it pained me to hear that you, the girl I raised was behind the attacks on Isabella?" My voice raised to a higher octave, as I tried to control my temper.
"Do not pretend to have a heart now, my king." Her voice was rough, and held no emotion to it.
"SILENCE!" The booming of my voice startled those standing closest to me.
"You will speak when I command it, or I will take your head myself." The lifeless body of Jasper, laid beside Alice and I called for something to cover his body. He may be a traitor but he was still a royal.
The French Queen Mother stepped forward once the covering came and moved silently over to her son. With the former king behind her, she held her head high and said a silent prayer, before Carlisle the first placed the covering over his body. As they moved back to their positions away from their son's body, I resumed my questioning of Mary Alice.
"Other than Prince Jasper, who desired the throne and tried to assassinate Prince Edward, who else did you work with?" I could see the reluctance in her eyes, as she tried to contemplate and answer.
"Name your accomplices."
"Jasper and I worked alone." She muttered.
"Do not lie to me."
"It does not matter." She spoke loudly, but the quiver in her voice spoke louder, she was afraid.
"It does indeed matter, now name your accomplices." I commanded.
However, before she could answer, a loud pounding came from the main door. With a nod of my head, the guard pulled the door open just enough for him to peep through, exchanging words with whomever was on the other side. Suddenly a page boy comes running through the parting crowd and towards me, with a message in his hand. Bowing as he reached me, I took the paper from him, reading quickly.
"Allow them in." I bellow and minutes later in walks a small army of French soldiers, with Queen Gianna. The mummers did nothing to distract from the fact that we were getting nowhere with this inquisition.
Turning Mary Alice, I spoke to her one last time, as we both knew it was now or never.
"Name your accomplices." She eyed the French queen as Gianna slowly made her way towards us.
"Prince Jasper, but I will not say his reasons, as they were his own. And…" she paused and looked off to the side with Carlisle stood before continuing.
"And Madam Esme."
"Lies, you conniving coward. Where is your proof?" Madam Esme's thick accent carried loudly, and as Mary Alice's head dropped, the patiently crowd finally erupted with great fanfare. Questions upon question left their mouths, but I wanted to end this as it had drawn on far too long.
Before I could utter a word, the crowd quieted and I turned to see Bella being helped to her feet by Edward. My Queen on her other side, as Bella swayed slightly, ready to steady our daughter. I noticed that Emmett and Rose had departed and I prayed all was well with the little one.
"King Charles, if it pleases you, I have the proof that Mary Alice obviously lacks," Gianna beckoned a soldier forward, who held a small servant girl in his hands. A loud gasps sounded off to the side, but I did not need to see who it came from.
"State your name for the king." Gianna spoke to her in English so I assumed she could speak it.
"My name iz Leah Beatrix, mi Lord." Her English accent wasn't the best but understandable.
"And who are you?" I asked as the soldier gave her a small push.
"I work in kitchen, helping cook. And that woman," with that she points to Esme. "She come wid herbs and force cook to put in de blessed queen's tea."
"More lies." Esme turns to Carlisle and gently caresses his face. "My love?" But her statement comes out as a question.
CAPOV
My grip on Esme gets tighter, as I find it hard to control my anger.
"My love?"
The feel of her hand stroking my face, repulses me and I pull her away. Shock registers on her face, as I begin to walk us towards where Mary Alice kneels.
"Carlisle, what is the meaning of this?" She questioned me, trying to pull against my grip. "What are you doing?"
"Do you think I wouldn't find out your plan? Do you think you would get away with what you did to my wife? I will have your head, put on a platter if it pleases her." I hissed right into her face, and all the years I sought out her touch and time, meant absolutely nothing. I was a horrible man towards my wife, who only tried to make a forced marriage work.
"The evidence along with this witness statement, is enough to hold you for treason against the throne of France, and your sentence is death." I give my verdict, as her eyes widen in horror.
"Death? Death? How can you do this to me, to our child?" Suddenly I am drawn to her belly in remembrance. A child, my child. I am caught, and unsure of what to do or say.
"If it is one thing I have learned from the Queen Mother, is that, the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." Gianna walks over to my side, but does not touch me.
"You will be placed under arrest, and will carry your child full term. However, on the day you give birth I will take your child as mine, and you will be executed afterwards. And I will have your head on a platter." The smile on Gianna's face was bone chilling, but I would not deny her this, as she would have lost many children to the actions of Esme.
With a flick of her hand, the soldiers come forward and both Esme and Leah are removed. Gianna walks away from me and over to Renee and Bella, who is now sitting on her mother's throne. With a nod to Charles, I walk back to the corner I originally stood, in silence.
CHPOV
With that over, it was now my turn to bring justice for England and for Bella. My eyes fell on the man, who I learned worked with Mary Alice, and had stabbed Bella. Summoning some guards, I had them force him to stand.
"For your part in this, you will be drawn and quartered." His frantic eyes, looked over to Mary Alice.
"Where is my family you filthy witch?" He cried out as the guards tried to remove him.
With a cackle louder than any woman should make, Mary Alice turned to him, "dead, all dead," she replied.
The man in a fit of rage, found escape from the guards and launched himself at an unsuspecting Mary Alice, and they both tumbled to the floor. As the guards, finally got him under control, Mary Alice was helped up, and blood flowed from her nose. She raised her arm up and wiped her blooded nose on her sleeve.
"Would you look at the mess I've become. Oh well, it doesn't matter I'll be dead, and soon I'll be reunited with my love Jasper." She bent down and placed a kiss on what I assumed was his head.
"Mary Alice for your part in this, I sentence you to-"
"Wait!" Bella's voice called out stopping me before I could sentence Mary Alice to death. Confused I looked at her, as she watched Mary Alice.
"Forgive me father, but I believe death is for too kind a punishment for her. If I may, I would like to present something more fitting." Her tone told me, that Bella was not asking. I nodded my head in agreement.
"I thought that I would give this long and grand speech, letting you know how much you've hurt me and my family," she paused, before taking a deep breath. "But frankly, I don't care to waste any more time on you, Mary Alice."
"You do not deserve death, that's far too kind, you deserve to live long enough to see me get the very things you tried to stop. You will live through my marriage, the merging of our two kingdoms, and you will live long enough to see me sit on this very throne, as queen."
Bella sits on her mother's throne, her hands covered in blood, but a smile on her face. "You will live your last days in the Dark Tower, no one will be allowed to visit you, and you will have no chance of ever being pardoned." With that Bella flicks her hands, summoning the guards to take her away.
As the guards picked up Mary Alice and began leading her away, she did not shout or cry out, but she held her head high with a smile in her lips and I worried that this was not the end.