Bound

ESTELLA’S POV
I was bound in silver chains, I couldn’t save myself, couldn’t defend myself against these pigs, I could do absolutely nothing as I stood before people eager for me to die. I had never been more powerless in my entire life.
But I knew what to do. The key was the princess that they loved. The prophesied link. Irony and poetry mixed in one. It was so ironic that I didn’t even know when I burst out laughing until I noticed that the noise had died down completely.
My laughter usually had that effect on others. But to think of it, I was going to die but my niece whose magic I siphoned to do the things I did, gets to just watch and do nothing?
That was insane. They needed to know how powerful she was. It was time for these pigs to know the real truth. It was time for them to hear it.
I stole a glance at the prince. All the blood had disappeared from his face, his eyes were wide open, staring at me in disbelief. He would never believe me.
I had to keep speaking. I was going to die anyway and if there was any chance I was to be granted immunity, this was the only way.
I confess that this isn’t how I had wanted this to play out but what has to be done, should be done and at all costs. That is what I learned in my life.
The murmurs from the board were getting louder. Prince Cillian looked like he was going to explode. He was red all over the face but couldn’t find his words yet. The only thing I could do now was keep talking.
“If you doubt the words I say, then I ask you to bring your princess and put that stone in her hands and see if it doesn’t glow up. If nothing happens, then you are all free to burn me alive!”
The murmurs increased and the councilmen were beginning to whisper that there is no harm in trying since they all knew the princess
I kept on speaking.
“Your princess and I are related, she is my niece. My sister was executed for using magic in this same manner by your father.” I pointed to Prince Cillian who stared at me speechlessly.
“She had a little baby who got lost after she was killed. The child was rumoured to have died but that was a lie. I shipped her to another part of the kingdom so your father wouldn’t find her. It was believed that the child did not survive but the child did and that child is Princess Rosalind.”
The murmurs were becoming heated.
“What is she talking about?” Someone asked amidst the noise.
“We took her after the princess trials, remember? I needed to confirm that she was my sister’s daughter and I did. Or you could do as I said and test the stone on her. If no magic is detected, then please, do what you want. If not, she will have to go down with me.”
It was the councilman by the extreme of the table that spoke first.
“First of all, these are very strong allegations, secondly it also appears that you have no proof to back your claim apart from your story and your theories.”
“Then let us summon the princess, let us confirm from her directly that she is not a witch as well as a werewolf. Let us confirm and we will all be sure.” One of them said
There were more side talks. They were beginning to suspect why I would just accuse Rosalind like that all of a sudden unless I had proof. The poor prince looked pale. I felt for him, I knew he cherished Rosalind but I couldn’t die now. I couldn’t get hanged just yet and I knew that dragging her into this would buy me more time and I needed that.
“My prince. These allegations are getting too much, I know that the princess is not what this woman says she is, but can she be summoned just to clear all possible doubt?” One elder suggested.
There were murmurs of agreement from the council.
Cillian turned to look at him and he bowed his head immediately. He stood up and the table went silent immediately.
“You want me to summon my brother’s betrothed for questioning before the council of elders? I’m not sure you understand how that sounds. And not just a random summoning but one that something has to be confirmed. We need to be very careful with the things that we are agreeing to.” He warned them.
“You believe I just cooked up all the things I’ve said, Your Highness. That is very understandable seeing that I am who I am, but also know that these sapphire stones are older than you, me and anyone in this room. They are relics and they have one purpose which is to indicate if there is magic in a person’s blood. I am here saying that there is, it is up to you to prove me wrong.” I said in the most compelling tone I could muster.
Cillian was looking angry now, which was good. You never make the best decisions when you’re angry. I crossed my fingers and hoped he would do as I predicted. He called a guard and whispered in his ear.
The guard left immediately.
“Take her away.* He commanded and I was taken back to the dungeons. I smiled to myself. I had succeeded in my plan to cause a bit of havoc. Now the prince had only two options; either to execute all the witches including Rosalind, or not. I will see how it goes. Things were about to get very interesting.
CILLIAN’S POV
All of this was getting me more and more annoying. How could they think that an omega like Rosalind was able to have magic?
I beckoned to the guard to summon Rosalind. This nonsense had to stop immediately to clear Rosalind’s name before it was too late. A lot was going through my mind, but I remained calm.
A few minutes later, the guard came back with Rosalind. She looked a little surprised to be invited to a council meeting.
When Rosalind walked through that door, I finally saw it and my heart sunk. The resemblance between her and Estella was there. There was no doubt. It was faint, but it was there. Their eyes were the same. But Rosalind was no witch. No.
I saw her in the province. I brought her to the palace. She was not a witch. But there was something about the confidence which Estella spoke with. She seemed more than a hundred percent sure of what she was saying.
Personally I would never subject her to this, but the councilmen were involved now and they needed to know as well. There was only one solution here.
Arthur spoke;
“My princess, allegations have been made against you. The witch queen, Estella who was just moved back to the dungeons, claims that you are both related and even goes as far as to say that you are her niece. Do you have anything to say about this?
Rosalind seemed as surprised as us to hear these things. She was red in the face, I didn’t know if it was because she didn’t like to speak to crowds or because of what she had just heard.
“It’s not true. I have never seen her before until after the princess trials.” Rosalind said in a surprisingly calm voice.
Arthur might have tried to hide it, but his face betrayed him. The princess trials that he wanted his daughter, Adelyn to win were won by Rosalind. He must have felt some annoyance towards her.
“So you deny having any ties with her in any way?” Asked Gordon.
“I deny it.” Rosa answered without a second thought.
I nodded to the guard and he brought the sapphire stone forward and put it in front of Rosalind.
“See if you can lift that stone, my princess.”
Rosalind looked at the stone and I crossed my fingers.
She picked it up in one hand and nothing happened. The stone remained as it was.
I relaxed for the first time today. Thank the goddess.
Rosalind, still confused as she didn’t know what exactly she was doing with the stone. Just as she made to put it down, the stone glowed up with the same intensity it did when Estella touched it.
She dropped it immediately but it shone on.
The board went ice cold.
Rosalind had magic?