Savoirs

Joseph

I was trying to sleep after talking with Jaclyn but I knew it was useless. No one was going to be sleeping tonight and maybe a long time after this. Everyone was angry about what will happen in the morning but we knew we couldn't do anything this time. This was a different kind of fight that we would be fighting. I sighed and went to the window to watch the sun come up. I could see the square clearly but I no longer felt anger towards what will happen. Instead I felt tired. I was tired of the anger inside me, I was tired of being strong but that's all I knew how to do. So I simply sat and watched the moon rise and fall as the guards busied themselves in the square. 

I knew I wasn't the only one up, I knew that Jaclyn was probably dreading the coming morning. I knew Jason hated everything that was happening. I knew Lia was scared. I knew Serena was unsure. I knew Adam was worried. I knew Shayne was understanding. I knew I was tired but there was nothing anyone could do about this. Not even the prince. His older brother and father had made up their minds and he would be endangering himself if he spoke out against them. 

I thought of everything that happened these past few weeks. I thought of how different the girl who gave herself up for the sake of her friends was from the shy, scared girl who had run an inn and simply wanted to be normal. She had changed on this journey and now she was a person who knew if she hadn't done something her friends would have been killed in a heartbeat. She was no longer a terrified girl who knew nothing about her powers or herself, she was now a woman who fought with everything she had to save lives, even if it meant giving her own. 

I felt a tear slide down my face as I thought but I was beyond caring. I let the tears fall freely as I thought of how much we all had changed on this journey and before I knew it the first rays of the sun were tainting the sky and there was a knock on my door. I didn't say anything for a few moments. I wanted to remember this. I wanted to remember this day in detail so when I recounted it to others I wouldn't forget anything. I knew I would be telling this day to many people. Knew I wouldn't be the only one telling the long journey over and over in villages throughout the kingdom. Another knock sounded at the door and with a sigh I stood, tied my sword to my belt and opened the door to find two guards waiting on the other side to escort me to the square. 

I didn't say anything to them as I walked out of the door and the bells started to sound. Three rings and then silence. Then again the three rings and silence. The village would be awakening at them and making their way to the square for the execution. I was led through the castle and outside to the courtyard where I saw the others being escorted as well. Slowly we became a small group and as the bells tolled was walked with our heads held high to the square where the guards left us and those who were gathered already moved away from us as we walked. Shayne stood near the platform and we stood with him. Jason had somehow became the one leading us through the crowd and he stood next to Shayne. Shayne was dressed like a prince but he held himself like a soldier and he didn't stand with his family, who would stand on a raised platform near the one where Jaclyn would be killed when they arrived.

As we stood with him he looked at Jason and Jason looked at him. They said nothing and as the sun brought light to the world, Shayne placed a hand on Jason's shoulder and nodded. Jason returned the gesture and as the bells fell silent we heard horses hooves plodding slowly down the streets and the king and eldest prince rode in with guards following and in the middle of the guards walked Jaclyn with her head held high. The crowd around us bowed but we remained standing and watched as the guards lead Jaclyn to the platform. We saw more guards coming towards us but Shayne stepped forwards and waved them away much to his fathers annoyance. A murmur went through the crowd and Shayne climbed onto the platform and stood next to Jaclyn. The crowd stood and silence fell as Shayne looked over the crowd and then he began to speak.