William was in his forties, a little too old for the job, but his family had been the trusted messengers for the royal family ever since Alexander’s great-grandfather and it was an important message. He was well treated and respected than any other man of his station.

He was glad that the King had changed his mind, it was a pain in his heart to see Nicholas die, because ever since Nicholas arrived to the castle, he had been watching him when his nanny couldn’t. William had seen him grow, intellectually and physically. Unable to read or write, William envied Nicholas, but when Nicholas volunteered to teach him, that jealousy had turned to admiration.

When the news of Nicholas was to be beheaded hit him, he had an impulse to run up to his king and plead for a lighter punishment. But he didn’t. Now it was his chance to pay Nicholas back, to help him. With that thought in mind, William rushed to the stable and whipped the horse hard as he sped off.

When the clock on the clock tower stroke once, Nicholas was pushed to his knees with his hands tied behind his back. His neck was locked down securely and all he could see was the bucket that was going to catch his head. The clock chimed for the tenth time. Nicholas had no fears, no uncertainty nor hopes to live. The sooner the blade falls down, the sooner he get to be with Lilyanna, in heaven. As the last chime of the clock was dissolving away in the air, the executor was beginning to release the rope that held the blade up.

“Stop!” A man was running towards to guillotine.

“It’s the king’s messenger.” One of the peasants in the crowd recognized the symbol on William’s back.

“Stop the execution on the King’s order!”

Before William could finish his sentence, Nicholas was untied and was standing on his feet.

“What is this all about?” He asked as he was helped off the stage.

“The king changed his mind.” William smiled.

The people gathered around them started murmuring, someone said it was a miracle, some cheered, some disappointed and even some believed that Lilyanna’s emotions softened the stone heart of fate.

Nicholas looked up to the clock; it was ten after noon. “I’ll see you in heaven once noon arrives!” Lilyanna’s words echoed in his mind. He jumped as he realized the meaning. “I’ll need your horse!” He shouted to William as he mounted the horse in such a haste fashion that he almost fell off.

“What’s it for? The king and queen are expecting you to return to the castle as soon as possible!” William yelled after him, but there was no other replies than the flying dust and the fading sound of horse hoofs into the wind.