His shouted rang through the town.
Hamish and Stephen closed their eyes.
Katie smiled through her tears and Robert wrapped an arm around her.
Isabelle touched her stomach and felt, for the first time, the baby kick.
The bagpipes continued playing and the crowd was stunned. They had never seen courage like this. Many of them, even soldiers, began to weep.
The magistrate stepped away from William. He too was stunned. He stared at William for a long moment. Then he said, "Enough. End it."
The executioner carefully lifted William and put his head on the block. He lifted his ax and once more, William turned his eyes.
He took one last look at Hamish and Stephen, Robert and Katie, and then Isabelle. He smiled. Katie's eyes where glowing. He looked at Isabelle.
The ax began to drop.
Suddenly, from behind Isabelle…stepped Marion. She smiled brilliantly at him.
The ax fell.
And Marion's handkerchief fluttered slowly to the ground.
Robert and Katie stood at Marion's grave. William had even taken the time to carve a thistle on her headstone. There was a new grave next to hers. William's. On his headstone, the word "Braveheart" was under his name.
Robert handed Katie the handkerchief. "Come. It's time we left."
Katie slipped the handkerchief into her pocket. "Yes. It is."