Each day Peter would go and stand at the same spot. On the same pale brown colored stone. He was never late; he thrived in the fact that he could see her. Up in the tower a girl with flowing black hair would look down through her barred window at him. For long moments all they would do was stare at each other with weary eyes. Sometimes they would casually wave at each other, forcing out an empty smile. Most of the time they would both let tears streak down their faces, then quickly wiping them away, hoping that the other didn't see it. Each time he had to walk away; each time she had to turn away. Each time their hopes of eternal togetherness would shatter, and then would be put back together for the next day's journey.

"This imprisonment is slowly killing him." Micky said, "and we are powerless in the whole matter."

"It's not just killing Peter." Mike added. "It's killing me too."

"And me as well." David said.

"Well, friends, I must confess, it is hurting me too." Micky softly said. "But, we must be strong at the trial tomorrow. We must be loyal, to the both of them."

For the first time in a long while Mike had respected Micky once again.

Peter staggered into the house and shut the door. The others greeted him but he did not take in their words. He felt so burned out and so weak. Gradually he made it up the steps to his room-the room where he and Miracle had slept together only the week before. Now, there was a chance that he would be the only one in that bed forever. In the past he could overpower the pessimism inside of him with his inner optimism. Now, his optimism was spent. Disheartenment and lack of hope filled his mind, and he could not get them out. He didn't know if he could stand the next day, when Miracle would go on trial for witchcraft and deceit. He knew that the sentence would be beheading. This frightened him terribly. He could already see Miracle's slender body laying on that piece of wood, and her shriek as the metal came closer and closer to her neck. Despite the fact there was a slight possibility this would not happen, it was all Peter could see in Miracle's future. He cried himself to sleep, shocked at his own lack of strength.

Michael dragged Peter out of his bed, and dressed him. Peter was so weak that even the simplest task of dressing could not be done on his own. David and Micky tried to encourage him, for he needed to be strong in front of Miracle. It was as if he were in a dream. He didn't understand anything. Suddenly he started to be more aware of his surroundings. His eyes began to focus. Instantly he found himself seated in an uncomfortable wooden chair waiting for his love to be permitted to take the stand. There was even a bit of hope for Miracle invading his thoughts.

The judge appeared stern and harsh. His booming voice unchanged as he called out the accusations of the Indian girl. David, Micky, and Michael flinched. Peter, suprisingly remained strong. David began to squirm. This alarmed the others.

"David! What is wrong?" Michael whispered.

"This is going to be hopeless." David replied. "Unless….."

"What?"

"I have an idea! I will try to return as quickly as I can. Don't let me miss the verdict!"

With that, David grabbed his journal and his coat and ran out the door. Michael didn't have a chance to even respond, for at that moment the judge called "the savage that is Faith" to the stand. Michael looked over at Peter, who was trying hard not to loose his solemn character he had worked so hard to attain. 'Why couldn't they have called her Miracle?' was Michael's only thought as he looked on.

Miracle was now dressed in a solid white peasant gown, her black hair partly tied back, exposing her neck. She was stern faced and unmoving. However, she was dying inside. 'I must be strong and answer the questions precisely so they can let me go.' She thought. She couldn't bear to even look toward Peter. She knew that he was going through the same inner hardships as she. Eye contact between the two of them would not help.

The prosecutor was a man cold in appearance, with piercing eyes. There was a bit of warmth to his voice, but his tone and pitch overshadowed it. He curtly walked over to the witness stand where Miracle sat and began to ask her questions.

"Am I under the opinion that you speak English?" he asked.

"Yes you are sir. I am fluent in the English language." Miracle replied, smiling.

"Now, miss, would you be so kind as to tell the court your background, and how you have reached this glorious land?"

"Yes sir. I was an unnamed orphan who was adopted by the Medicine Man of the Powatan village in what you call the "New World." I served as a nursemaid and doing general tasks assigned to the women. I was always told that one day my destiny would be fulfilled; I would acquire a new name and find true love. Well, it came true, sir. I found a man who was ready to fall off of a cliff and I pulled him to safety. He was the Captain Peter Tork. He thanked me and gave me my name-Miracle. We began spending time with one another and we were granted by the tribe to be wed. Unfortunately, Peter was shot accidentally and had to be rushed back here. By my own persistence, I was granted to accompany him."

"What do you mean by your own persistence?"

"Well, at first, the other men were not happy about my idea. But, Colonel Robert Michael Nesmith convinced them that I should go as well."

Michael admired Miracle. She hadn't faltered from the minute the prosecutor asked the first question. She was attentive, and answered the questions with wonderful ease. The only time of pausing was when she had to cough. It was strange, though. Miracle had never coughed, at least not when Michael was with her. Still, she was wonderful. The prosecutor continued asking her about her relationships with the English settlers and her beliefs on several matters. Then, he began touching on the dangerous subject: the treatment of Peter's wound.

"Now, miss, why did you ask the Colonel to help you take Captain Tork to his home for treatment?"

"I saw how your doctors were aiding the sick. It did not look as if they were not being relieved. A few seemed to be getting worse just at the touch of the physician. The physician said to watch him. I did, but I watched him at his own home under my supervision, and that of the Colonel's."

"Yes, but did Colonel Nesmith want to take him out of the hospital?"

"Well, as always, he was a bit skeptical, but I convinced him everything would be all right."

"And how did you convince him?"

"He did not take much convincing, sir. I just told him to look into his friend's face, and see his pain."

"Yes, but after you cast a spell on him. Just like you cast a spell on the minister and the physician!"

"No! I do none of those things!"

"LIES!"

"How would you know, sir? All you know of my people are lies! We are not savages, we are not bloodthirsty! We do not try to hurt people without probable cause."

"Yes, but you had a cause. A supposed selfish love for the Captain!"

"No, sir. My love for the Captain is faithful and true. He risked his very life for me. The least I could have done was try to heal his pain."

"By casting demons and even the devil himself inside of him?"

"I do not know of the devil or demons you speak of. I know of the truth in a person. The spirits have protected him in the past. They would not let such a brave soul blow away in the scattered winds!"

There was a mass of confusion. Peter had stood up and began to defend himself and his Miracle. Micky and Michael were desperately trying to calm him down. Miracle was coughing again, as well as yelling at Peter to stop. The sounds of the judge's gavel and the prosecutor's claps worked to no avail. Suddenly, the commotion ceased. People began to gasp and then fall on their faces. Miracle looked up, pleased to see David. She did not know the feeble old woman at his arm, but decided that she was important and bowed down like the rest of the people. She heard David's voice boom out:

"All bow to Queen Elizabeth I!"

"Your majesty! What brings you here to this peasant court?" the prosecutor cordially said from the ground.

"She is here because she has to right a serious wrong." David angrily replied.

The queen gently kissed David on the cheek, motioning him to go toward the witness stand. David led her slowly, taking cautions at her every step. When they reached the stand, she motioned for the crowed to rise and give her bay to speak.

"Fellow subjects, a travesty has been committed here today. You have come here with only vengeance in your hearts, fueled by only what you have heard. You have not heard the truth!"

She calmly walked over to Peter and bid him to come to her and he joined his hand with Miracle's.

"These two brave souls have surpassed all the evils that have been brought upon them. No matter how you have persecuted them, deep down they both can thrive off of the love for each other. I am honored and pleased to know a native person of the New World with such gumption and courage as young Miracle, to follow her heart and accompany her love. And, her medicine has proved good for the soldier. I will put to death any soul who tries to chastise either one of these two lovers again. They have earned their right to be together. I permit you to grant them this honor."

The words hit the people deep. They wiped the tears from their astonished faces. Yes, their noble Queen was right. They had no cause to hurt Miracle. They all felt ashamed. The judge kissed the hand of the Queen, pounded his gavel, and began to speak.

"I charge the young maiden Fa--Miracle not guilty of witchcraft and deceit. She is released on good terms, so saith the court of England!"

Cheers expelled from the court. Michael, David, and Micky all jumped up and down with praise.

"David how did you get the queen to come?" Micky asked. "She is my godmother." David happily replied, and then turned to Peter and Miracle. "She knows I would never lie to her."

Miracle and Peter smiled and cheered. Then Peter caressed Miracle's neck as they began to kiss triumphantly. They were together-at last! Their faithful friends interrupted them.

"Peter, the New World must mean something to you now!" Michael said joyously.

Peter kissed Miracle on the cheek. "Yes Mike, the New World was a Miracle, that I was lacking for so long."

Michael patted Peter on the back with utter worship. He then walked over to Miracle and hugged her. Tears filled his eyes.

"Thank you Miracle!" he said sweetly.

Miracle kissed Michael gently, just like that day on the ship.

"No Michael. Thank you.

The following hours were spent in celebration. All the people in the courtroom just wanted to congratulate the couple. Michael stood back with adoring eyes. He stared at them deeply. A tremble of woe came across his face for a split second as a thought entered his mind: 'That cough. I just can't get over Miracle's cough.'