William was dragged up the steps of the execution platform and stood on his feet. He looked at the platform and neither to the left or to the right.

"William Wallace, I put before thee one last chance. Confess and ye will receive a quick death." The Magistrate pointed to an ax. "Refuse and thou shalt be purified by pain. Thee is to be drawn, hung and quartered." He looked at the man standing before him. "The choice is thine and thine alone."

William simply sighed.

"Very well." The magistrate nodded to the hooded men.

William looked up and gasped aloud.

Skye stood on the edge platform, her hands calmly folded in front of her. And in the crowd just behind her, stood Hamish and Stephen. The sun sent blinding rays of light bouncing off the black and gold of her dress. It picked up the hidden light within her black hair and threw it around. Her blue eyes glowed as clear as the sky above. She managed a slight smile and nodded her head to him. "Wait!"

The magistrate looked at her. "Yes, my lady?"

"I wish to give the prisoner a gift," said Skye, never taking her eyes from her Father. She stepped forward and brushed her lips across his cheek. She let her cheek rest against his warm one. "Go with God, Father," she whispered. "Go with God." Then she stepped back and retook her place at the edge of the platform.

The magistrate looked at her for a long moment, then cast a suspicious look at William. His eyes swept the man up and down, then he shrugged.

Then a noose was slid around William's neck and he was hauled up. He kept his eyes on Skye, even as he began to gag.

The crowd jeered and cheered as he began to go red.

Skye clasped her hands together tightly and kept her lips together to keep from crying out. "Jesus, help him," she whispered. "Help him!"

"Drop him," the magistrate ordered at last.

Skye looked at the ground and a single tear fell to the wood as her father slammed into the platform and gagged and gasped for air.

"Rise to your knees, kiss the King's emblem on my cloak and this shall end," said the magistrate.

But William staggered to his feet and sucked in fresh air. Even as ropes where tied to his wrists and ankles and he was stretched, he kept his eyes on Skye until they rolled back in his head and he gasped from pain as his muscles tore.

Skye's face was deathly pale but she forced back a sob.

Again they dropped William and this time they dragged him over to a table and tossed him on it.

Skye stepped forward until she was at her Father's head. She looked down at him.

"Get back," ordered the magistrate.

Skye didn't even look at him as she touched her father's hand.

The magistrate grabbed her arm but one of the guard's stepped forward. The magistrate looked at him and then at Skye. Slowly he let go of her arm.

William's eyes flew open wide and he gasped in pain as the hooks tore viscously into him.

Tears from Skye's eyes fell on his face. Her cool hand rested on his forehead.

The crowd had grown silent by now and they stared in shock and awe as the man who had fought to give Scotland its freedom, was quartered. Women began to weep and the men felt a fierce sense of pride whelm up in them. they watched as the richest woman in Spain, England and Scotland stood over a brave man.

At last, the executioners stepped back, amazed to see he was still alive.

William looked at the magistrate and opened his mouth.

"The prisoner wishes to say a word!" shouted the magistrate.

There was not a sound as they all waited.

William struggled to take a deep breath. "FREEDOM!"