She just laughed cruelly. I looked to the king for support. “Please…” I begged him, “don’t kill Prince Lucas! Killing me is fine, but don’t hurt him!”

But he was smiling too. “Perfect plan, Marilyn. You’re starting to sound like a good future queen,” he nodded approvingly.

I was doomed.

Prince Henry VI nodded, and the man behind him stepped forwards. “Lay her on the block,” he demanded, and the men obeyed. I screamed and struggled, but it was no use. They were too strong for me.

I started to see dots in front of my eyes, redness taking over, adrenaline pumping through my body. Then, as they held me on the block, I slumped over, my struggling over. I gave up.

It was all over.

I hoped that I would meet Luke in heaven.

There was a flash of silver, and the last thing I saw was the form of a man, his hair golden, his actions unknown to me.

A blinding pain, then nothing.

♪ Coda ♪

A bright light filled my vision as my eyes fluttered open.

Was this heaven?

The objects in my view were blurry, unable to distinguish. A golden blob floated above me, with no shape or form.

“She’s awake!” I heard a mesmerizing, musical voice, and then the pounding of feet. Another blob stood before me, his bulk filling my sight. I felt a warm hand on my forehead, the big blob still too close for comfort.

“Yes,” the blob agreed, “and her fever is gone.”

Everything suddenly shifted into focus, and I recognized Luke in front of me, the other man obviously a doctor. I looked at them both, puzzled. “Why am I not dead?” I asked.

For clearly I wasn’t. I could move my hands, my toes wiggling at my command.

I was laying on a comfy bed, in a large, airy room that comforted me. I wore a long, loose dress that came to my feet, an ugly one that nearly made me gag.

“I pushed you out of the way,” Lucas said plainly.

“What?” I was still confused.

“I pushed you off the block before they could kill you,” he stared at me, a pained look to him, a strand of his beautiful blonde hair falling into his eyes, “but in my panic, I pushed you too hard, and you got a concussion from hitting the ground with such force. At least, that was what the doctor told me.” Searing regret showed plainly on his face.

“So how long was I unconscious?” I asked.

“Four days.”

I sat up, my straight brown hair splayed out on the back of the wall as I leaned against it. This didn’t look like a room in the castle at England, with practically no heirlooms, instead a beautiful mural that stretched from wall to wall. “Where am I?” I questioned.