I was dragged to the middle of the courtyard, by two warriors. I held my head up high! If they were expecting me to cower, they will see that they were wrong! I did what I did because I felt I was wronged by the man that I loved.
I looked around the courtyard, searching for Alexander, but he was no where to be seen. He is the coward, not I. I saw Alexanders brothers, Colin and Tristen, they looked worried and they tried to come foward but a few warriors held them back. On the other side of the courtyard I saw Branden, Two men held him secure in their grip, and he tried to free himself from their hold but was not successfull.
Mary and all the other ladies of the court were standing by the walls of the courtyard, crying and comforting each other, and Isobel stood proud and alone, waiting eagerly for the first lash to touch and break my skin. It was her who went to council and betrayed me, I am sure of this.
The defender called a warrior with a black hood to step foward. Peace settled in the courtyard as the hooded warrior took hold of the lash and walked over to me. There were hundreds of warriors that were waiting to witness the lashing, and not one of them was happy to be here.
A warrior that I did not recognize walked over to me and tied my hands together with a rope and then tied the remainder of the rope to the wooden pole. Gently, he pushed me down on my knees, and walked away, the expression on his face was one of regret and sorrow.
With the exception of Isobel, eveyone else felt pity for me. But I raised my head up high. I did not want their pity. I will show them what a strong woman I am!
The defender barked loud an clear, "Ten lashes for the crime committed. Let everyone here today know and understand that the people of Scottland do not take lightly a crime such as this!" and having said that, he walked up to me and ripped my gown from the back, and as I heard the tearing of material, I felt the gentle wind caress my bare back.
The defender walked away, but not before he whispered for my ears alone, "Stay strong my child."
I turned around and watched the hooded man stand behind me with the whip in his hands. He was hesitating. The defender barked the order for the first lash, but the hooded man stood frozen, not able to move.
The defender repeated the order, adding that delay is taken serious and it will add more
lashes to the ten already.
Immediately the hooded man raised his hand and lashed the leather whip on my bare back, and it sliced through my skin. I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from screaming out loud.
The crowd stood silent, not a whisper to be heard.
Branden, was the only one who yelled out loud hoarsely, "Stay strong princess, soon it will be over."
The second lash came fast and dug deep into my skin and I shut my eyes to keep the tears from spilling. My hands closed into fists and my nails dug deep into my flesh. But I did not cry out!
The third lash tore into my flesh and I have no doubt my back was bleeding, I heard the ladies of the court cry out, but I stayed strong and unmoving.
The fourth stroke cut deep into my skin and I heard the crowd cry out for mercy. I heard the hooded man moan hoarsely as he delivered the fifth lash, and by this time I felt no pain, as my back was now numb.
There was a huge uproar from the crowd, they cried frantically for mercy and the public defender held his hand up in the air for the hooded man to pause.
I heard the hooded man cry softly, as he waited for instructions.
"Those in favor of continuing the flogging step foward," announced the defender.
Isobel was the only one who stepped foward.
The denfender continued, his voice loud and clear, "Those in favor of an acquittal step foward,"
And everyone else who was in the courtyard rushed foward and yelled, "mercy"
And I witnessed the public defender take a deep inhalation of breath before he announced, "Untie her, it is finished."
Two warriors rushed to my side and quickly untied my hands, and I turned my head around just in time to witness the hooded man drop to his knees, and when he removed his hood, I looked upon Alexanders tearful face, before I passed out into his arms.
AUTHORS NOTE: Sigh, how can she ever forgive him after this. should she forgive him? please tell me what to write next. I am waiting for answers, thank you. and please dont for get to vote. thank you and love you all. xoxoxoxoxoxo
