Derick's Put To Death - Chapter Fifty Five

Derick was taken out of his cell and brought to the torture chamber. The executioner was there waiting on him. He strapped Derick down on a wooden table and began torturing him. 

"Were you with Julia before she married James?" he asked Derick as he twisted the wheel that tightened the ropes around his wrists and ankles. They started to pull him apart tighter and tighter.

 Derrick didn't say anything at first. However, soon the ropes began to be so tight that he screamed out in pain.

"I'll ask again. Were you with Julia before they were married?" the executioner asked again in a polite, almost bored voice.

"Yes!" he screamed out in pain.

After hours of torture, Derick laid there motionless and heartbroken. 

He hadn't wanted to betray Julia, but he couldn't take the pain. They forced it out of him by nearly ending his life.

The council met with Kristen and William in the throne room.

"So did you get him to confess?" Kristen asked them.

"Yes, he confessed to everything. He indeed is the father. They were together before she married James and continued to see each other afterward," they informed her.

"So have you found them all guilty?" she asked.

"Yes, we have found all three guilty of treason, your highness," they confirmed.

"Then they shall all be put to death. Have Derick hung and beheaded? As for Julia and her mother, they will be beheaded only since they are of noble blood. I want Julia to see it all before she dies herself," Kristen ordered.

"Yes, your majesty," they replied and left the room. 

The executioner headed down into the dungeon to tell them their fates. Julia knew it was going to be bad when she heard Derick's screams yesterday.

"You, your mother, and Derick are to be put to death for treason. You have all been found guilty," he told Julia and her mother.

Julia broke down into tears, knowing that her fate was sealed. She ruined her life, along with Derick's and her mom's. Her son would grow up without a mother and father and would never know them.

After spending the whole night crying and consumed by the thoughts of the blade taking her head off, she managed to calm herself. She heard someone coming down the steps.

The executioner approached the cell. 

"Julia, you are to come with the guards," he told her.

"Where?" Julia asked as panic set in.

The executioner did not answer but pushed her along.

She began to tremble as she walked up the stairs from the dungeon.

"They're going to kill me. It's my time," she thought as they continued walking.

Julia was taken outside, and as she came around the corner, she was horrified by sight in front of her.

They pushed Derick off the platform, and he began to hang. He shook and kicked, struggling against the rope that wrapped around his neck. 

She gasped with horror and had to look away. She couldn't bear to see him struggle for his life.

She covered her eyes but could not keep that image from burning into her memory. 

"You are ordered to watch, or we will have to kill you in an even more painful and treacherous way," one of the guards commanded her.

Julia removed her hands and peered up at Derick. His face was full of fear and pain. 

Julia fell to her knees and began to plead. 

"Please! Please! Stop! He doesn't deserve this! I'm the guilty one. Take my life, not his!" she cried out.

Derick struggled to breathe and began to kick and jerk violently as life began to drain out of him. The executioner walked up behind Derick with a knife and cut the rope. Derick fell to the ground gasping for air. He removed the rope from around his neck and struggled to breathe. Julia watched in desperation and shock, thinking that they had decided to spare his life.

The guard walked over and ordered Derick to get up.

"Get up those steps!" he ordered.

Derick could barely walk. He crawled up the steps and stood on the platform with the guard and the executioner.

The guard then ordered Derick to stand in front of the blood-stained square rock.

"Now, place your head here, and when your ready, remove your hands," he told Derick.

Julia realized that they had no intention of sparing his life but to torture him before they beheaded him.

He knelt down and placed his head in the grove of the rock. Now weak to her knees and ready to throw up, Julia stood watching in fear to look away. She knew if she did that, she would die right then. The executioner raised his sword high then came down fast striking Derick's neck.

Derick's head came off in one clean swipe, falling into the basket in front of the stone. His body fell limp to the ground.

Julia, now completely in shock, viewed his head lying in the basket and lost her nerve. Her true love and the father of her child laid dead before her eyes.

Julia couldn't take more and collapsed to the ground, bursting into tears. The guard said nothing but watched her fall to pieces. He felt sorry for her as she laid there crying on the ground.

They loaded Derick's body into a wooden box and sealed it. It was then placed on the back of a small cart. One of the guards arrived with a horse to pull it away while the other guard helped Julia up off the ground.

"Let's go! You have to go back to the dungeon," he told her as he leads her away.

Julia's mom was happy to see her daughter. She feared they had done something terrible to her. Isabel looked at Julia's face and realized Julia was in shock.  

Julia looked over at her mother with tears still streaming down her face. She couldn't even speak.

Isabel ran over to Julia and took her into her arms.

"What have they done to you?" she asked Julia.

"They..... they.... killed Derick. They made me watch the whole thing. It was horrible. They tortured him!" she cried out, now trembling all over.

"Hopefully, the queen will take pity on you since you're still young and spare your life. No matter what happens, I'll be here for you and will always love you," her mother told her softly.

"Things will never be the same. I have ruined so many lives," she cried out softly.

"We will get through this together, child. All we can do now is hope," she told her. 

Castaway Chapter Nineteen - Two Families Become One

Belise got up early to start breakfast for the family.

Everyone was up and dressed and came down when breakfast was ready. They all sat down and enjoyed breakfast together. 

"This is really good Belise, you have really outdone yourself," Jordon told her.

"Today I'm going to show you around the island," Haley looked over and told Lennie. 

"I would really like that," he replied. 

"Good, I'll work around here while you and Lennie play, and you guys head out for dinner and collect other things," Belise told them.

Belise finished cleaning up after everyone headed out for the day. She cleaned the hut and got ready for lunch to be prepared.

Haley had Lennie follow her up on the hillside.

"This is where my parents and grandparents are buried. There was a terrible accident when Jordon's father's plane blew up. Me and Jordon were the only ones to survive," she explained to Lennie. 

"I know what that's like. My village got sick and my little brother became ill too. He died a few days later after he caught it. We were the only ones that made survived," he told Haley.

Haley and Lennie decided to cool off for a bit. She showed him her favorite swimming spot. They swam and splashed for hours.

When the day was coming to an end, Lennie and Haley decided to build sand castles while the adults played a game.

"I have a surprise for the kids. I managed to gather some of the scrap metal and wood from that plane explosion and made them a little hut in a tree. I think they will really like it," Samual told Belise.

"That is so nice! I saw where you made a few other things for them to play on. I will continue to help with their studies," she told Samual. 

When the kids walked up the hill, they saw this little house in a tree. Lennie wasted no time climbing up. 

"Wait up!" Haley called after him.

"Wait til you see this! I can see so far from up here. Hurry up!" Lennie called down to Haley.

"How did your dad come up with all these cool things?" she asked him. 

"He always did this in our village. We had all kinds of cool things to do," he replied smiling. 

"I have never seen anything like it. I'm having so much fun!" Haley said, unable to stop laughing.

"Ok, now to teach you what we do for fun. You take this stick and try to knock down that peg," she explained to Lennie. 

"Ok, let's see how I do then." he replied and concentrated. 

He picked a stick up and threw it. It soared over the pegs and almost hit his mom.

Everyone decided to call it a night. Samual and Belise tucked the kids in and got ready for bed.

It didn't take Haley long before she was asleep. She thought she had a lot of fun before, but never realized having someone her own age would be so much fun. She was starting to really like Lennie.

"I'm so happy here Samual. I think Lennie is starting to put the past behind him and move on. I think this is a new beginning for us and I see great things for the kids futures," she told Samual.

"I'm so glad to have you and your family here. I didn't know half the stuff you do. You are so great with the kids and Haley seems to really like you. You must have been sent by an angel for sure." Jordon told Belise. 

"I really like Haley. She's such a sweet little girl. Me and Samual really like it here too. You have made us feel so welcomed," she told him.

When the kids were done with breakfast, Haley decided to have a contest with Lennie. 
"I can build a cool castle. Do you want to see who can make the best?" Haley asked Lennie.

"Ha! I think I'm up for the challenge!" he called back at Haley.

When the day grew dark, they decided to head in and get ready for bed. Haley took Lennie by surprise when she drilled him with her pillow. 

"Ouch!" he called out but giggled. 

He grabbed his pillow and swung to hit Haley in retaliation. 

She darted out of the way.

"Hey you cheat!" he told Haley. 

Haley could only laugh at Lennie. 

"That's the idea! See who can hit the other the most," she replied.

Lennie began to laugh. 

"Oh! I get it now. You're pretty good at it. I look forward to all the things you can teach me," he told her.

"I do enjoy it, but you also have much to teach me too. I think your pretty neat," she said and smiled at him.

Julia Gets Caught - Chapter Fifty Four

It was very late, and Kristen couldn't sleep. She decided to head up to the top of the castle to enjoy the stars and get some fresh air. She remembered how she loved to come out at night and sleep during the day.

As she stood there enjoying the night, she heard some voices below. She peered down to see Julia with Daniel talking to the stable boy. She thought that it was very strange for Julia to have Daniel out so late and to have him with her talking to the help. 

"Julia! What are you doing?! If you get caught, it will be the end of both of us!" Derick exclaimed quietly as she approached. 

"I came to let you see your son. He looks so much like you when I look into his eyes," she explained.

Julia handed Daniel to Derick. 

"Oh, you're such a cutie," he told Daniel as he tickled him. 

Daniel giggled at Derick. 

"I can't believe I'm a father. He's just perfect. I wish I could raise him and call him my son," he told her. 

"I know you do, and I wish the same. Daniel has such a wonderful life, and someday, he will become a king and rule this land," she replied.

Derick sat Daniel down and then embraced Julia.

"I love you and will miss you until we see each other again," Julia said quietly as she reached down and picked up Daniel. 

"I love you too. I will wait till you return to me," he replied and turned to walk away, looking left and right to be sure no one saw them together. Julia hurried back into the castle while Kristen watched Derick. 

Julia returned to her room to find Kristen waiting for her. 

"You little tramp! I thought my son was lying to me about you. I took you and Daniel into my home and treated you like a daughter and Daniel like my grandson. How dare you do this to James! What do you have to say for yourself?!" she shouted at Julia. 

"I don't know what you're talking about. Daniel is James' son, and I have not betrayed him. They are telling you lies to break James and me up!" she replied with shock. 

"Oh! So you're still going with that story?! I saw you with my own eyes just now with the stable boy! You even said he was the father of Daniel! That you loved him!" Kristen snapped back her response.

Julia gasped. She knew she had been caught and was in serious trouble.

"I can explain!" Julia exclaimed, now full of panic. 

"Well, let's hear it then?!" Kristen replied as anger began to consume her.

"He wouldn't have anything to do with me! He refused to share my bed and always went off at night. Derick was the only one who really loved me. It's all James' fault," Julia sobbed. 

"How dare you blame James! There's no excuse for this. Do you realize that you and Derick have committed treason in the worst way?! You have messed with the bloodline, lied, and shared your bed with someone else!" Kristen yelled.

Kristen paced quickly back and forth in front of Julia before turning back to her.

"You will be punished for treason as well as Derick. As for Daniel, he will be stripped of his birthright. You will never see him again." Kristen told her. 

The guards were called to keep anyone from leaving the room, and William watched as Julia found guilty for treason.

Kristen then ordered one of her ladies to take Daniel out of the room. She carried him past the guard standing by the door and out into the hallway heading towards his room.

Julia fell to her knees, sobbing with her face in her hands. 

"Please take pity on me. Don't kill me! Please don't punish Daniel for my faults. He's an innocent child," she cried out.

Kristen turned to Isabel. 

"Do you take me for a fool?! You knew about this and chose to go along with it!" Kristen yelled at Isabel. 

Isabel composed herself quickly.

 "I didn't know about it," she replied to Kristen. 

Julia kept quiet. 

"You had to know! You are inseparable from your daughter, and you knew she was with the stable boy tonight. You both tried to deceive my family and me. You will be punished for treason as well," she told her. 

"They will not allow you to punish my daughter like this and me!" she protested to Kristen. 

"Oh, yes, they will. That's the law, and you broke it. No one will save you from the fate you sealed when you allowed it to happen," she replied with a cold tone that gave both Isabel and Julia chills. 

"Take them both to the dungeon," she ordered the guards.

Julia and Isabel were escorted down the stairs and through the dark halls to the dungeon. The guard opened the metal door and ordered both of them to enter into the dungeon cell before slamming it shut. 

As the guards started to walk away, Julia ran to the door. 

"Please don't put me in here! I'm the princess, James' wife. I don't deserve this! Let me out!" Julia cried out. 

The guards didn't even turn around as they headed up the steps.

Isabel walked over to Julia with such rage she could barely contain herself. 

"How did the queen find out?!" she demanded. 

"I don't know!?" Julia replied truthfully. 

"Where were you tonight?!" Isabel demanded. 

"I... I was with Derick, but no one was around! I made sure of it," she managed to get out.

"I told you that this would happen! You just had to see him and couldn't leave things alone! You have doomed us all. Now we're going to pay for it with our lives!" she yelled. 

A short time later, they heard someone coming down the steps. Julia ran over to the bars to see that the guards were escorting Derick to the other cell. Julia broke down in tears when she saw him. 

"I'm sorry," she whispered to him as he passed her cell.

The next day Kristen came down to the dungeon. 

"I have talked to my council. You are to stand trial for your crimes, and your marriage to James is officially annulled. You are no longer, nor was ever married to him. Your fate will now lie with the council." Kristen told Julia and Isabel. 

"Please! It was an innocent mistake! It won't happen again. I'll be a good wife, I promise." Julia begged Kristen. 

"There is no other chance; your crimes are unforgivable. You can beg for your life to the council, but it won't do you any good. You see, I was the one that caught you," she told Julia, then left before she could say anything else.

Kristen went up to the nursery where Daniel and one of her ladies were waiting for her. 

"I want you to dress him like a common child. He's no longer royalty. He's to be treated like his status. I need you to look for a suitable family that will adopt him. Preferably one that can't have children. If the council finds Julia guilty, he will not suffer for it," she instructed her.

James arrived back from working on his castle. Kristen had him meet her in the throne room. 

"My son, it seems that I owe you a huge apology. I saw Julia with the stable boy last night. She told him that he was the father of Daniel and told him that she loved him. Now Julia, Isabel, and the stable boy have been placed in the dungeon until the council decides their fate. I just hope you will forgive me for not believing you." she told James.

James sighed with relief.

"I knew it would only be a matter of time. I just didn't know who she was seeing. I can now see the resemblance in Daniel. What will become of my marriage and the fate of Daniel?" James asked Kristen. 

"Your marriage is now annulled, and in case they are found guilty, I have my lady trying to find a nice family to take Daniel in and raise him as their own," she replied.

Later, Kristen met up with her lady and Daniel. 

"Have you found a suitable family yet?" she asked. 

"Yes, your Majesty. They are a childless young couple that has been unlucky with having children. They will make good parents for Daniel. They are of noble blood as well," the lady replied. 

"Good! Once they are tried and found guilty, you can take him there. Until then, you are to attend to his needs," she commanded.

"Mother...after they have been found guilty, can I marry anyone that I want?" James asked her, hoping that she would agree. 

"James, I have wronged you in so many ways," she said as she took his hand into hers before continuing, "I will allow you to marry anyone of your liking, as long as you are happy, my son," she finished and gently squeezed his hand.