No Greater Love

Chapter Twelve

        My body shook with terror as it was shoved through a maze of torturing devices until we arrived at a singular stage. Upon it was a hanging rope. They aren't going to kill me are they?! My mind raced until a headache occured. My hands were tied by the hanging rope. At least they aren't going to kill me. I thought. A gruff man stood upon the stage crossing his arms looking down at me.

        " Where is the treasury?" The only word I spoke was, "Never." A sharp pain, like a sewing pin, struck my upper back and tore down my back. I shrieked in pain and started crying. Again and again he asked the question. Again and again I said firmly, "Never." And again and again a sharp pain was felt. As the tears rolled down my cheek I asked myself, is this even worth it? I could just tell them where it is. It's really simple--under the palace. I could run back and tell Mother. Mother. The tears flowed. I missed her terribly. Then I felt an inner "slap to the face" so to speak. I remembered why I was doing this. Alex, it's for Alex. Sound escaped my ears and tears, different tears, filled my eyes. The pain melted away as I remembered the love, the crazy love, I had for him. The foolish boy. In my heart I had forgiven him for the wrong he had done. I hoped very much that he had forgiven me, for not forgiving him all the way. How funny this all sounds now.

My thoughts were interrupted by the same door I had entered creaking open. With the thud of the door against the stone wall, came the realization of those that entered. The malicious lord Amasa, holding a steel chain. At the end of this chain was the dear, dear Alexander. In his rags, his ruffled blonde hair hung low in submission.

"Alex!" I cried. As my voice echoed through the room, Amasa grabbed Alex's jaw and forced his face to look at mine.

"Look at her. Take a good long look at the 'strong warrior' you foolishly 'love.' " Barked lord Amasa to Alex's face. As Amasa spat in his face, I saw a single glistening tear of Alex's fall to the ground. "She's not worthy of your affections. She can't even follow the simplest of orders, you fool!"

"Stop it!" Alexander yelled. "You know nothing of her. You know nothing of love!"

"You dare tell your father to stop it?! Love is the very thing that killed your mother. Its because of her foolish 'love' that she went out to war and got herself killed." lord Amasa roared. 

In the midst of my escruciating pain a sudden feeling of shock came over me, freezing my body.  Father? WHAT?!   

"She saved your life!" Alex exclaimed. 

"I could have saved myself! She, with her frail body-I don't want to speak of this anymore!" With this last word he gave a solid blow to his son's body.

"Alex!"  I screeched as another rip was placed upon my back. 

"SILENCE!" The torturer boomed. "We will continue later. UNTIE HER." He ordered. 

After I was untied I clutched my purple hands and collapsed upon the wooden stage in pain. "Get up ye li'l scoundrel." With this remark his bulky booted foot kicked my bloody back, shoving me onto the dirty floor. I screamed in pain as I landed flat on my burning back and the air was knocked out of me.  "Get 'er in the cell. No food for two days. You know the drill."