A/n: The final chapter, here most will be revealed.

Chapter 13: An Execution

Tia was in cell sleeping off the events of the previous day, she only had a few hours left before she was going to be hung, Tia tried to remember what had caused the sequence of events that would eventually lead to her death, was it me going to the fort? She wondered, no it was farther back then that, memories came rushing back of the day she met Thom, thinking once again Tia realized that it was even further back when she first decided to go to Tortall.

I came looking for a future and I found one, Tia thought, in six hours my future shall be decided by a man who loved me once but now hates me, remembering Justin.

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Thom pleaded and Alanna yelled as they both tried to convince Jonathan not to go through with his actions but to no prevail, it was like convincing a rock not to be a rock. In the end Jonathan just avoided those who wanted to change his mind about a poorly made decision.

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At sunset it began with the crowd gathering all were forced to be there, one Tia's old friends was even assembled there: Lokii, he had come in disguise in order to bring back a full report to the King of Tyra, he didn't want to see his best friend that had been with him through Shang training, the only thing he looked forward too was seeing the person responsible for Tia's trial, Justin, hanged.

The crowd fell silent as a herald called out the called out the names of the 'guilty' and their crimes then the order in which they were to be hung: Justin was first to everyone's relief followed by Tia.

Justin was brought out his face was pale and sweating and he pleaded for his life he was brought up to the platform, Justin became hysterical with fear, he was now weeping and calling for help the now present masked executioner put the knotted rope around his neck, gently placed him on the box, Justin was crying, he soiled himself in fear as the herald called out his crimes once more. The executioner placed his foot on the edge of the box and prepared for the kick that would either snap Justin's neck or leave him dangling till he choked to death, the herald finished and nodded to the executioner the courtyard was silent, the executioner kicked the box out from Justin's feet and his neck did not snap instead the assembled crowd was forced to watch Justin struggle for life before the life was drained out of him ever slowly.

The executioner chopped the rope down and soldiers carried the body to a near wagon that would be taken to an unmarked mass grave.

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Tia waited in her cell she knew it was time and she wished that she could have done more with her life, so she was an accomplished high ranking Shang but she wished for more: children, a husband, a settled life, a life were she didn't have to worry about secrets or other countries plots.

A knock on the door signalled it was time, Tia stood up numbly trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach, her child would have no place here, following the guard, everything seem slowed down they way the guard applied metal chains to her hands and feet the way she was moving everything.

Sunlight hit her eyes dazzling her for a moment, she realized that she was looking into a crowd of friends and family, feeling sick Tia wondered why the were there, she didn't particularly want her family and friends to witness her last struggling moments on the planet.

Walking shakily down the road, Tia noticed Thom in the crowd looking worried he saw her and tried to smile but he couldn't help but let tears fill his and her eyes. She walked up a slow rise unto the platform built in the courtyard, the steps up to the actual platform where she was too be hanged seemed so far away and yet so close.

The wind blew her hair onto her face, brushing it away Tia saw her mother in the crowd standing next to Numair who was holding onto Thom with two hands preventing him from rushing forward to 'heroically' rescue Tia.

Numbly realizing that she had made it to the top she felt the rope being tied to her neck and felt herself moving onto the box that would end her life, before the box was kicked out from under her feet, before the life fled from her eyes, before Thom called her name, Tia whispered, "I'm pregnant." The crowd was silent enough to hear all the words and the box was kicked, throughout the crowd a sickening snap could be heard.

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A/n: so...who wants a sequel?