Story of a Princess Unknown – Chapter 20 – End of a Beginning – or Beginning of an End?
Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated for so long – I started a new story – non-fantasy – on fictionpress and I've kinda been concentrating on that. ALSO I was banned from fanfic for a week – I put a story in a wrong category or something weird like that. No IDEA why!
Thanks for all the great reviews – this is the last chapter of the story and I am gonna miss you guys SO much. Feel free to email me – – to motivate me for the sequel! If I know you want it, then I will write it. I just want to finish off my Tamora Pierce story first so I'm not overloaded with three stories.
People are still asking me why I'm having inaccuracies in this story, referring to the original book. As I have said several times, I HAVE NOT read the book for YEARS. It was one of my fave books as a little kid, and I apologise for any innacuracies.
Tiff – MAYBE! But I don't think a lightsabre would be my weapon of choice ...
Kirstie – YAY! New person! Thanks for your compliments – I agree – this story has gotten a lot better since I started. It's my first fanfic and I think the first chapter sucked – I'm amazed that so many people continued reading it!
Breathless74 – Frankie is great! And I finally got my mum up on a horse! She rode my friend's 17.1hh grey thoroughbred – she was SO freaked out but she did really well! I've been having some awesome jumping and flatlessons and some great rides! But on Tuesday I'm back at school, and I return to riding in the dark after school. Yuck. But it's gonna be spring soon!
Brain-brat – don't worry bout it! WOW! You really liked the last chapter!
Smittened by Marauders – Umm, I don't think Jared and Eve are cousins. Did I say that somewhere? I think I just made Mordred a distant relative of Char's. Ewww I would NEVER want to marry ANY of my guy cousins!
The morning that they didn't want to face had arrived, the sun rising slowly over the hills of Kyrria. The city of Frell was sombre – there was to be a hanging. This wasn't uncommon – Mordred hung people all the time – but this time it was the pretty young former queen. And the handsome Prince. The thing was, the citizens weren't exactly sorry that the duo had killed Mordred – in their opinion it was the best thing that could have happened.
But years of oppression and killing from Mordred had taken their toll on the people. No one spoke their mind, shared their opinion anymore, fearful of being hung themselves for treason. They never knew who was a spy for the former king. And so, no one protested at Eve and Jared being hung.
Eve didn't want to wake up. She wanted to stay forever in the realm of dreams where she could speak to her parents, where she could treasure Jared in her heart always. Eve knew that their love would live on – but she didn't want to die.
She felt a finger stroking her cheek, and, reluctantly, Eve opened her eyes, to stare into Jared's handsome face. He kissed her impulsively, making her smile. Then her face turned fearful.
"Is it time?" She whispered. Jared nodded, his eyes sad.
Luke appeared outside the cell, unlocking it, Blake beside him. Eve noticed with interest that Luke seemed to be drooping, sadder, sorrier. He deserves it, she thought grimly.
He gestured for them to come out of the cell. Jared went first and was immediately seized by Blake, who frogmarched him up the stairs to the main building. To Eve's surprise, Luke grab her hard by her arms. Instead, he took her hand gently and squeezed it. Eve looked up at him, her surprise showing in her emerald eyes.
Luke looked right back at her, and for a moment he was the country boy that Eve had known all her life. But then his expression changed – it was urgent, scared, and he was the hardened spy once more.
"Don't give up. Not yet," he whispered to Eve, his words simple, but his eyes implying something more.
And Eve knew that he was back on her side. He had made many bad decisions and she knew that maybe she would never trust him again – but for now, she had to. She nodded, whispering "Thankyou," but couldn't say anything more as Blake was coming back.
"Hurry up!" The older boy called harshly. "His majesty is waiting."
Eve wanted to spit at the ground when she heard Callum being referred to as "His Majesty." Better yet, she would have liked to spit on Callum. But unfortunately, that wasn't possible at the moment, as she was being dragged up the passageway, by Blake, and, somewhat apologetically by Luke.
Then she was in the room where she had been beaten, tortured, sentenced to die. Once more in front of the man she hated most in the whole world. Yet she was with the man she loved most in all the world. Jared's hand holding her's tightly was comforting.
She had no chance to tell Jared that there was hope for them as all the spies were watching them. She couldn't say it in front of everyone, or Luke's plan would be ruined.
"So. You are back before me once again. Today you die – both of you, insolent dogs. Do you have any last words?"
Jared stood, strong and tall, stoically silent. But Eve just couldn't pass up the opportunity. Gathering all the moisture in her mouth, she spat loudly at Callum, and had the satisfaction of seeing the look of revulsion on his face – right before he kicked her legs out from under her.
Eve fell hard onto the stone floor, losing her grip on Jared's hand. But she was silent. Jared worriedly tried to help her up, but he was restrained by Blake.
Eve slowly got to her feet, showing no emotion, although she could feel Jared's fear for her.
Callum took her silence as a personal insult. "Why won't you cry, dammit? You good-for-nothing slut, you wench." He came closer and slapped her, hoping to make Eve cry, make her plead for her life.
But Eve stood, tall and silent, with all the grace of her mother. And Callum could do nothing about it. Turning away from her, incensed, he yelled, "Take them to the gallows!"
Two unfamiliar men clapped them in hancuffs, then Luke hurried forward to take Eve's arm, while Blake jerked Jared roughly after him. He sent worried glances back to Eve, but she tried to convey that she was alright in a single glance.
"Are you alright?" Luke whispered to her.
"Why do you care all of a sudden?" she replied dully. I can't forgive him just yet.
He dropped his eyes from her's, and they continued down the street and out of the inner city. After walking for ten minutes, they reached the edge of the city. There was a teeming crowd, drunk already, by the vendors hoping to make a profit of the hanging. Sure, the people of Kyrria did not really understand why the hanging was happening, nor did they want it – but the drink addled their brains.
Eve saw the gallows in the middle of the crowd and shivered. Two identical stands of wood, fraying ropes swinging in the gentle breeze. The sun was shining brightly, birds singing. This was not a day to die. There is hope. Luke may help you! She told herself frantically before panic took hold of her.
Eve and Jared were hauled to stand underneath another platform where Callum stood. He spoke.
"People of Frell, you are here today to witness the hanging of a young woman and a young man. The charges against them are as follows: Treason against the crown and the former king, may he rest in peace -"
Eve snickered. Blake glared at her.
"Once count of murder and one count of being an accomplice to murder -"
Jared hung his head. Eve reached over and squeezed his hand, and he smiled at her gratefully. Blake glared at them again.
"Assaulting His Majesty, me -"
He bloody well deserved it. And all I did was spit on him! Eve thought indignantly. If anyone did the assaulting I'd say it's him.
"And being a general nuisance to the crown."
Callum nodded at Blake and Luke, gesturing for them to bring the two 'criminals' up onto the hanging platforms. Luke took her arm again and pushed her gently in the right direction.
Eve looked up at him in panic. How can he help us from there?
But the look in Luke's eyes quelled her thoughts. She wasn't supposed to think anymore – just do. Thinking could get her killed. Just doing might save her.
Jared gave her one last look, a look filled with all the love that Eve had ever seen. He had no idea about what was going to happen, still believed that he was going to die at the gallows. Eve looked back at him, trying to tell him to keep hoping.
Then Blake pulled Jared away, up the steps, and put the rope around his neck. Luke did the same with Eve. She could feel herself panicking. Don't think, just do. Don't think, just do.
She held her head high and looked out at the crowd, clamouring, knowing that they were about to witness a killing. Then the rope tightened around Eve's neck, and she retched. But nothing would come out of her, her body was empty, heaving.
The platform underneath her was going to fall away. But she didn't know when. No one can help me now, Eve thought bitterly, resigning herself to her fate. I will die. Here. Now.
The crowd had fallen eerily, suddenly silent. Unnervingly silent. As she glanced out across them, Eve thought she saw a glimpse of a familiar head of dark brown hair. Her heart leapt.
Mandy! Surely we'll be saved now! The woman turned her head to look at Eve, and indeed, it was Mandy, a look of sorrow and sadness on her face. Then, her look changed to deep concentration.
And Eve felt the rope writhing. Any moment now, the platform was going to fall from under her feet, the noose would tighten and she would be strangled. But the rope was moving.
She heard a sudden, stealthy hissing in her ears. And she froze. Eve realised what had happened – just as the platform fell from beneath her feet. She fell, suddenly, and far from the expected jolt and sudden tightening of the noose – she fell right through the hole in the wood, landing inside the hanging platform.
When she landed suddenly, crumbling to her knees, Eve felt a hand on her mouth, silencing the scream that had been ready to burst out of her. She looked up into the kind, chocolatly eyes of a girl with dark hair, about her own age. "Shh!" The girl whispered. And, "Stand still."
Eve felt the snakes slithering, and she froze. The slithered and slid right down her dress, landing on the sandy floor. She breathed a sigh of relief. The girl touched her arm, whispering, "We must go!"
She muttered something in a strange, guttural language, and opened a concealed door in the back of the tiny little shed under the raised platform, and beckoned Eve to follow her.
The slipped through the door, then Eve froze. They were in the middle of the crowd, who were all surging forward to the platforms, amid Callum's screams of rage. "WHERE ARE THEY? Get them OUT of there!"
But strangely enough, no one seemed to notice them. No one glanced at the girl who had been up on the platform until a moment ago. And then Eve realised. This girl was a fairy.
She caught a glimpse of Luke striding purposefully through the crowd, heading in the same direction as Eve and the girl. And somewhere, Eve knew, were Jared and another person, cloaked in another spell to make them invisible. She felt a sudden rush of gratitude towards Luke for saving them.
But something was wrong. Callum had seen Luke, seen him going. He knew that something was up. "AFTER HIM!" The enraged king screamed, but he couldn't be heard in the clamour from the crowd. And all the spies were too preoccupied trying to find the escaped criminals.
"Fine. I'll do it myself," Callum muttered, unsheathing his sword.
Eve caught a glimpse of the king making his way towards them, then they were at the edge of the crowd, and the girl started running, heading for the woods on the outskirts of the town. Luke began running too – now in clear view of the king. And they were heading for the same place.
Luke caught up to them, looking around worriedly. Then he stopped. He didn't want to run any further – he had to fight. Callum appeared through the bushes. Eve cried out soundlessly – apparently the spell stopped all noise as well.
Luke whirled around, facing his king.
"What are you doing out here?" Callum spat.
"Why did you follow me?"
"I knew that you were up to something!" Callum responded triumphantly.
"So what if I am? I'm sick of you!" Luke yelled. "I don't want to be in your group anymore!"
"Is that so, is it, young Luke?" He spoke silkily, calmly. "But you see, Luke, no one ever leaves by band willingly. At least, not alive."
Callum leapt with catlike grace, swirling his sword in an arc towards the younger man. Eve gasped and made to rush forward, but the strange girl/fairy grabbed her arm restraininly. She seemed to know that this was Luke's battle, not Eve's.
Luke whipped out his own sword quickly and blocked Callum's strike easily, then tried to dodge in underneath the King's sword, jabbing at his heart. But Callum pushed his sword up, his weight sliding Luke's weapon away from him.
They circled restlessly around eachother, both wanting to be the victor, neither wanting to give in and strike first. Then Callum drove in like lightning, thrusting and parrying, driving Luke backwards.
Then, with a practiced flick, he disarmed the boy easily. But Luke quickly dropped to the ground and rolled back. He grabbed his sword and leapt up again in one smooth movement.
Then, suddenly, he cried out, and staggered backwards. The sun had glinted hard off Callum's blade, striking Luke hard in the face. The older man drove in, relentless – and Luke's arm fell limply at his side as Callum's sword pierced his heart. Deep.
Eve cried out again, but didn't try to move. He's hurt! Because of me!
Luke crumpled to the ground, his legs giving out from under him, blood bubbling out of a deep wound. Too much blood.
Callum stared down at him with satisfaction. "What did I tell you? No one leaves my band willingly, alive. Now, Luke, I would love to stay here and watch you die – but I have more pressing matters to attend to."
He spat at Luke, then ran off, back out into the crowd.
Eve looked pleadingly at the girl, and she muttered a few harsh words again. Eve knew that she could now be seen, and she rushed to Luke's side.
He opened his eyes and saw her as she crouched down by his side. "Eve ..." Luke murmured weakly.
"Don't talk," Eve cried urgently, "Save your strength, Luke."
He shook his head. "Eve, I ... love you. I know that ... you loved me once. Can you ... please forgive ... me?"
Eve felt tears spilling silently down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Luke. I forgive you. I do. Please ..." But she didn't know what she wanted to ask.
Luke raised a hand to brush her tears away. Dimly Eve registered Jared and a man with black hair crouching alongside her, but she didn't pay any attention to them. The boy she had known since she was little was dying.
He gasped out one last sentence. "Eve ... you will be ... the greatest queen ... that Kyrria has ever known."
He breathed in. Out. In. Out. Then nothing. Eve stared at his body, just a shell of the Luke she had known.
She felt Jared's arms close around her, and she turned and wept into his chest. Luke was gone.
So there you have it, my loyal reviewers. The end.
Story of A Princess Unknown
24 April 2005 to 30 July 2005
20 chapters.
Probably over one hundred hours and pages on Word!
Dedicated to Matt Dryden, killed while doing what he loved.
Story of A Queen Unfulfilled
All your favourite characters – back for more! (If I get enough reviews!)
Coming soon!