A few hours after sunrise, two guards appeared for me. They gave me a bonnet to tuck my curls into, making it easier for the executioner to see my neck.
Of course I hadn't slept all night, who would knowing it was there last night on this planet. I spoke to the stars twinkling in the night sky to keep me company, I thought about Una and how she would fare. I thought about Septimus, I re-ran our story in my mind from start to finish. What a story, maybe someone would write of it one day once they knew the ending?
I was escorted out of the cell and a short walk to a courtyard I'd never seen before. It felt good to be out in the air once more. It was one of those sunny but chilled mornings as everything still looked damp. I took in every precious detail of what my last moments would be.
I was 'fortunate' enough that this appeared to be a small affair as I looked at the scaffold, my legs started to shake and the reality of everything seemed to be piecing together. I looked around the small crowd and saw the prince's, the only one looking in my direction was Secundus as the others looked too ashamed to meet my gaze. My heart dropped as I didn't see Septimus, surely, he would be here to capture my last moments. I know he had spoken of a plan, but it was too late now.
I noted that the King was not in attendance, and neither was Una which I thanked the stars for, I could never forgive myself if she had to bear witness to my end.
The guards helped me up the stairs as I started to shiver with nerves as I drew nearer to the executioner. He was completely covered as was custom and I drew a gulp as I peered at the sword in his hand, I could only hope he was skilled enough to make it a quick, painless ending for me. My eyes couldn't seem to produce a tear, it was as though my body was stunned into silence.
The Captain of the Guards appeared next to me to announce "Bella Heartlocke, you are a traitor to Stormhold and you therefore have been sentenced to death. Do you have any last words or confession?"
I trembled as I looked at the small gathering as the only words I could manage to whisper was "In this life and in the next". I know Septimus wasn't there, but I trusted my words would be passed around and he would know what it meant to us.
I then felt the executioner hand on my shoulder, he was very gentle at helping me to the block. I guess he would have to be a calming spirit to lead people to their death.
I started to tremble even more as I moved any stray hairs that had escaped my bonnet and laid my head upon the wooden block. The world seemed surprisingly peaceful as I accepted my fate.
"Forgive me" I heard the executioner say, to ask for my forgiveness for what he was about to do, and my body tensed up, I knew that voice.
I heard as he raised his sword, this was it. It would be over in seconds I hoped. Maybe me and Septimus would have better luck in the next life? I was consumed with making him my last thought until I suddenly felt the breeze of the sword come pass me and wedge into the block next to me. Had he missed my neck? But then I felt the executioner grab hold of my waist and unleashed a dagger, cutting a rope off the scaffold and making us fly upwards, much to the commotion below us. We landed on the wall as the Captain of the Guard below us shouted his orders to seize us. I quickly glanced up at my rescuer and realised who it was.
There was no time to talk as he pulled my arm as we entered a corridor that led out to the stables where I saw Una waiting with his horse and hers. With the guards in motion, we didn't have long as I gave Una an embrace as Septimus dragged me up onto his horse and galloped like he was the devil himself as I watched Una ride in another direction.
As we left the Palace, he threw his hood off and I was relieved I wasn't going mad, it was actually him as I breathed "Septimus! You really did leave it to the wire there, didn't you?"
"A thank you would suffice" he remarked back with a smirk, he knew what he had just done was quite impressive.
"Where are we going?" I asked as he went off in a direction I didn't know but he didn't answer, he simply kept riding until we couldn't even see the Palace anymore.