Down to the Gallows

"Th-That was my mistake-", Aven pulled away from me. Aven stared at me with blank eyes, I closed my eyes in fear he might hit me but instead I felt a tugging sensation on my lip. My head tilted slightly, by impulse I had kissed Aven back. I then felt his touch disappear, I opened my eyes to see Aven staring at me with his hands in his pockets "I will ask my Father to cancel the execution at once, do not leave this room".

I sat there in shock, free from handcuffs, one kiss may earn me my freedom back, what could my whole body do? I somehow wondered if I may have accidentally put him in a trance, what if this was one of the powerful magicks my mother had possessed. I sat there looking around his room from my spot in the corner next to Aven's bed. I noticed how he had no photos of his Mother and Father, his room looked quite plain even I would decorate with newspaper scraps and collages. Aven only had one photo of a cat sitting on a woman's lap, I couldn't tell if it was his mother since the corner of the photo with the woman's face was cut off... or maybe burned?

His room was spacious, I couldn't memorize every square inch if I tried. A knock suddenly landed on the door I was caught off guard by all my thoughts. Aven showed up with his Father behind him. Aven looked at me "The execution can be stopped but only with a wedding between... you and me. I gave Aven a look of anger, "This isn't a setup, I swear it", he whispered into my ear.

He backed away from me as his Father made eye contact with me "You may fake your love with Aven, so I want you to prove that you aren't a liar like your bastard Father, who, I mention is dying in the ICU. I want you, Letharia, to profess your love for Aven to your Father, then you may proceed with the wedding, no execution."

I stood up "Get me out of this dirty dress and I'll go tell my Father, the words he always wanted to hear", I spoke in a solemn sarcastic tone. 

"Aven will undress you then, I have an execution to go to, so make it fast", Nero smiled at me.

Nero stood in the corner of the room watching Aven undress me. Aven put his hands on my shoulders "I'll be gentle", he whispered. "It doesn't matter", I whispered back. He pulled my dress off in one go. I looked back at him as he tried to keep his eyes on my face instead of my body. "You can look", I forced those words out of my mouth as I made eye contact with him. Nero smiled then left the room. Aven sat on his bed "There's a dress in my closet, take one, I'll wait outside for you".

As he left for the door I shoved my arrogance aside "Aven". 

"Yes, Letharia", he glanced at me. 

"Thank you".

He gave me a silent nod as he left the room.

I made sure to dress quickly. "I'm ready", I came out in a shiny dress covered with jewels, I held Aven's hand. Aven's father followed us to the Medical wing, I was ready to cry as soon as we got there. Nero talked to the nurse and escorted me to my Father where I saw tubes up his mouth, and in his nose. "Father", I whispered. His eyes opened "Daddy". The defeat in his eyes killed my soul. He tried to speak but I could see the pain in his eyes. "Listen...", my voice cracked. "Daddy I love you, but I love Aven too, I intend to marry him". 

I saw the disappointment in my Father's eyes, he then focused on someone behind me. Nero pushed me aside and looked into my Father's eyes "You've lost Adonis, You've lost your wife to me, you've lost your dignity to me and now your daughter, now all you can do is die".My Father struggled while he looked me in the eyes as the nurse sedated him.  I started to cry not noticing I was Already in Aven's arms.

Nero looked at Aven smiling "You can have your wedding, but I will still hold one execution, Aven escort her to the gallows, we'll have your wedding after".

"This is not what we agreed upon, Father", Aven spoke.

"Oh, Hush Boy! Be grateful for what I just gave you." 

Aven and I were escorted by guards down to the gallows, Aven held my hand for the camera, I looked away from him the entire time. Aven looked at me "I'm going to kiss you, that's one thing I'm not letting you decide on". He gave me a passionate kiss in front of the camera.

The crowd cheered. As soon as his lips parted I made a sound, faint, but his eyes widened.

"You moaned", he whispered.

"How interesting...."

His parents walked in front of us without saying a word. We arrived at a spot diagonal from the gallows and Aven grabbed my hands to sit on a wooden throne next to him to watch my brother's execution and that poor man.

I saw Sir Hethway's children and his poor wife, waiting anxiously, we all took a seat. Awaiting, Aven's commands. Finally, after 35 minutes the guards made their way. Aven stood up "Silence!" He struck fear into the crowd as they closed their mouths and watched quietly.

Jessi...I finally see him. I wanted to scream, cry, and run away and grab him but I couldn't. I felt that Aven had lied to me, I hated him twice as more. I saw Sir Hethway, wearing rags, looking as beaten as Jessi was. Hethway fell in front of the guards and cried out" Please! I'm begging ya' Armstrong, let me go! My wife's right there! Prince Aven?! Prince Aven?! Forgive me, that girl next to you is crazy! My lord...please".

The guard who looked away, Armstrong, pushed Hethway onto the wooden stage and stuck his head right through the hole, resting on wood.

Jessi stared at Aven with such hatred.

The head guard stood then yelled "Men! On the count of three, behead them. One...., Two...., Thr-

"Stop!"

Everyone gasped. I thought I heard Zane but I turn over to see Former King Nero.

It was too late, I heard a head roll. I couldn't look, but I did. I heard a Woman scream after. Hethway's head was cut clean off his body but a second later and that knife would have killed Jessi.

"Father, what is the meaning for this, you were supposed to cancel both executions."

Nero ignored his son "Jessi Vulpine, hear my words, and hear them clearly, my son will no longer rule on this day, if you agree to become my Royal servant. If so, I will free you from your fate and make you a part of a better one."

Jessi stared down.

"Well...."

King Nero's voice echoed.

Jessi spoke, "I accept".