Authors Note:

Thank you RozaCourt for being my beta for this LAST CHAPTER :) And many thanks to all my reveiwers! :*

Guest: I'll make sure to, thank you for reminding me! :)

Flopi216: Thank you! I'm sorry for not updating soon! I thank you so much!

Well, I'll miss everyone. But this story has grown old and I have to end it here :D Thank you!

Chapter 8: The End

-Shun-

I got down from the porch and into the main hall where the big main entrance stood mocking me. The door banged loudly as the townspeople tried to break it open; the guards that eventually gave up just stood there watching from the outside. All of the queen's servants other than me were gone. I clutched on to the fabric of the silk dress; it was annoying, but that was the least of my problems. The halls were empty, and the echoing of the door, the cheering, and fowl language of the men were killing me internally. All I could think about was Alice and if was she alright. People would call me mad at my next action; it would be like committing suicide. I unlocked the lock that was keeping all the chaos from entering the castle. Why would I? Because I would rather not wait. If God wants me to end, I shall do his bidding. Though this is not mostly about God: this about Alice.

The door opened, and Daniel grabbed on to me roughly.

"I caught you, Alice, and this is the end to you tale. I will get revenge for Runo, and not even your loyal servant can help you," he whispered into my ear. I glared at him and shivered at his breath in my ear. The close proximity was not helping either: I was trying to keep my identity a secret.

He pulled my arms roughly and tied them behind my back; the rope burned into my skin. I knew for sure that I was bleeding. He also tied a rope on my mouth, to keep it shut. Not that I would talk or anything. That would blow my cover for my voice was too deep for a lady.

The crowd of people standing around Daniel backed off to make room for him and me. I knew where I was going: before they take me to the guillotine, they would make preparations for about 15 minutes. I would be kept in a jail cell, where the air smelled fowl and the worst of the worst were kept.

I was shoved into a cell with no hope left in me. The darkness enveloped the jail cell. This jail cell was one of the ones that had no window, except for one little one very far from my reach. The door did not have bars. It was a metal door. The cell was made of brick, some straw lay on the floor, and a bucket, nothing more. I sat on the straw mat and pulled my knees up towards my chest, careful not to get the dress dirty. My hands were still tied to my back. I looked up at the window. That window up there represented the amount of hope I have left: barely any. The room was damp, spacious, and dark, except for that one small, out of reach window. My gaze lowered to the straw mat; I stayed deep in thought for about fifteen minutes.

The door opened, and in came a commoner wearing cheap clothes, a cigarette in his mouth, and a rough look on his face. He held a pitchfork in one hand, ready to attack when needed. They chose wisely, this man looked like a man with no manners, raised in a barn or on the streets

"Up with ya. Yer Comin' with me. Times up lady." He said with no respect whatsoever.

I got up with some difficulty, but I managed to stand up. Once I did, he grabbed onto me harshly. He pushed me forward and out of the prison. Once we were out, I was greeted by light, which blinded me. I squinted my eyes, not very accustomed to the light. People made way and threw garbage at me. I looked at them with a harsh glare. We walked through the streets up to the main guillotine that the king used to hang people on; I looked at it wearily. This would be my end, and I did not mind. Am I going to turn mad?

They untied my hands to place them and my head within the guillotine. People kept on cheering them on. Humans, what vile creatures, how do they find the torture of another fellow human amusing? Alice had no fault in this whatsoever; it was her father. Her father raised the amount and prices of taxes before his death, and that led to this whole problem. Alice at the time refused to change it, because her father told he not to, and as the daughter of the king, she wanted to obey him. Alice was very nice compared to other rulers: they should be thankful. Now that she is gone, the whole country will run into chaos.

They kept cheering on and I was helpless, I would not resist. I knew I can get out on my own, but I will not resist. If I did they would surely know it's me.

"This is the day we will rise up against this witch! May God help you! Say your last prayers!" the man who was holding the rope of the guillotine shouted. That rope held the blade that cut of many heads before. The heads of many disrespected people.

I felt honored to die for the one I love: Alice. This is a blessing, an omen. If Alice is safe, I'm at ease.

He was about to let go of the rope until someone shouted, "No! Stop this! Stop this at once!"

It was Alice. I was about to tell Alice to go, run while she had the chance, but it was too late. She took off her hood and people gasped. The man holding the rope did not move.

"Please, let him go! I will do anything!" she sobbed.

People kept looking at the former queen; some dumb people were still confused. Some people, who were drunk, just threw garbage at her and spat fowl words.

"Kill them both!" Daniel called out. My head hanged down in shame; I could not look at her. Now what was I to do to save her?

"P-please just kill me! I don't want Shun to suffer!" Alice implored.

"I say, how about we just ban them both from the country? It would certainly be more peaceful. Our queen has the heart of an angel. I would hate to see her go."

Everyone agreed, much to my surprise, and let me go. I looked at Alice who still had tears rimming her eyes. We hugged and left the country, never to go back again.

END

~Pearlene Nishimori