Royals Through Time 2: The English

Chapter Five- Decisions

"This banquet is going to be FANTASTIC!" Myah tossed herself onto the bed in Lunden's room, where the girls were getting ready for the banquet. Lunden was already done, but Gracina was doing hair, and Myah was desperately trying to stall so she could get hers done. In the end, they were all ready, and were just about to set off when a knock came at her door. It was one of the Royal Guard:" Your Majesty, Lady Alexandra of Wales is here to speak to you. She says it's urgent.
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The banquet was in full swing. Lunden was sitting at the high table with the others on either side of her. Emilia and a very nervous Alexandra were seated close by. Each of the girls had been assigned to an aspect of the night. Myah helped Lunden play hostess, Averia watched Emilia, Gracina watched Alexandra, and Sarah watched everyone near Lunden. The banquet dragged on with dancing and food, the Queen eating and waltzing with the best of them. But there was one thing she didn't do: drink. Lunden seemed to be avoiding her drink, and Emilia was beginning to notice. Averia noticed her taking frequent glances at the golden goblet that still sat untouched. When at last the event was drawing to a close, Lunden stood as if to make a toast. Averia, Myah, Gracina, and Sarah also stood. Averia whispered something to the guards as Myah moved between Alexandra and Emilia. Sarah took the goblet from the table carefully, and with one motion, threw it out the window. Emilia knew there was only one reason that she would have done that, and only one way she could have known. But before she could attack Alexandra, the Royal Guard dragged her from the hall. The guests were stunned as the rest of the Royals returned to stand by Lunden. The Queen looked compassionately at the scared people. "I'm sorry to interrupt your fun with that. Unfortunately, we were alerted that Lady Emilia was plotting to poison me. I believe if you look out the window where the tainted drink was thrown, you may see its effects." Several people did, and told everyone that there were chickens writhing on the ground, their beaks stained. One came forward and knelt before Lunden. "Your Majesty, I was part of this scheme. I was the one who slipped the poison into a goblet, but I did not know whose it was. Forgive me, Your Excellence." The man held out his wrists to be tied, and he was led away to the dungeon where Emilia was, with Lunden looking sadly after.
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Emilia was found dead in her cell the next morning, stabbed with a peasant's pitchfork. No doubt the killer was angry at her for misleading them, as she had done to quite a few. The nobleman who had confessed led the guards to the people who had seemed closest to Emilia, of which there were eight. Five were proven innocent, the others confessed to full knowledge of the plot and its purpose. The nobleman was given his freedom, and though his title was taken, he seemed happy with his life afterwards.

This is the goblet that held the poison intended for Queen Lunden.