“Then by the power invested in
me, I now....”
Just then the large doors
slammed open and a murmur went up in the crowd.
Rosanna and Derrick both
turned in surprise as a man yelled out.
“Stop this wedding!”
Rosanna caught sight of Amelia
and sighed with relief, but when she focused her attention on the man who had
spoken, her mouth dropped open in surprise. The person was none other than
Roger, the one she had met at the mine, and not far away stood the guard from
the prison, Sir Wright.
Silence engulfed the room
until Rosanna's father spoke up.
“What authorities have you
here, sir?”
Roger was about to answer when
Derrick yelled out.
“How dare you, sir, to barge
in this way!”
Roger smiled at Derrick before
replying.
“I am sure that you know full
well my reason.”
Rosanna did not know what
connection the two men had but when she looked to see what Derrick’s reaction
would be, she discovered that he did not look threatened.
“Do I know you, sir?”
He asked calmly.
Roger crossed his arms and
rubbed his chin with one hand.
“You know, I think we have met
before, where was that?”
Rosanna could tell that Roger
was speaking sarcastically.
“O, that's right; I think we
first met when we were babies!”
Rosanna had no idea what the
speech was supposed to indicate but it appeared that Derrick did; His face
flamed with heat.
“You are mad, sir, I have
never seen you before.”
Roger arched his eyebrow then
motioned for Amelia to come forward.
“I assume that you have never
seen this woman before either, am I correct.”
Derrick looked Amelia over
carefully then answered.
“No Sir, I have not.”
King Charles walked over to
Roger and waved his hand in the air.
“Enough of this nonsense state
your point, sir.”
Roger seemed pleased with the
response. Rosanna saw Sir Wright hand her father a scroll as Roger spoke.
“As you wish your majesty.”
The King received the scroll
and looked it over carefully before replying.
“I already know King Derrick’s
background I do not need to read this.”
King Charles rolled the scroll
back up and handed it back to Roger.
“I know the conditions on
which King Derrick obtained his father's throne and I fear that you are wasting
our time. Guards show this man out!”
Sir Wright stood to attention
when the King called but he did not move to obey.
Derrick looked relieved to
know the king was taking his side.
After noticing that no one was
coming for him and that the whole room was waiting for something to happen,
Roger spoke.
“Your majesty, I am sure that
you do not know the whole story of how Derrick obtained the throne. He poisoned
his parents!”
Ladies hurried to cover the
mouths to hold back their cries and men spoke out loudly.
Derrick pointed his finger at
Roger and began walking toward him.
“You have stepped over your
boundaries.”
The king was soon by Derrick’s
side and ordering Sir Wright to arrest the man.
“How can you say such things?
You have no right!”
King Charles directed a fire
filled glare at Roger and Derrick angrily shouted at Roger.
“If you believe such lies than
you certainly must have some proof.”
The room once again became
silent as they waited for Roger to reply. Rosanna saw Sir Wright leave the room
but he quickly returned and with him was the queen.
A look of concern crossed King
Charles face.
“You should not be stressing
yourself my dear.”
Queen Aria held her head up.
Her dark eyes were very visible against her pale face. Anyone could see that
she was not feeling the best.
“Not only did he poison his
own parents but he also poisoned the queen and yourself.”
Roger spoke with confidence to
the King.
“This is outrageous!”
The king looked momentarily
shocked and then he attempted to speak something but then darted his eyes
toward Derrick as if for explanation. The silence was embedded in the room as
everyone watched the different emotions race across the King’s face. A sudden
light brightened his eyes as he began to see the truth and the queen took that
moment to reinforce what she knew.
“Darling, it is true.”
All eyes focused on the queen
at this moment.
“As I was ill, King Derrick
became most helpful; he even brought me my tea every day. Well, one day, when I
was a little more conscious I watched as he poured the cup but I also noticed
him pour something else into it also. Out of curiosity, I did not drink the tea
for several days. When I began to feel better I immediately suspicioned poison.
I secretly had a doctor test the drink and he did indeed find poison.”
King Charles looked stunned
but Derrick’ expression did not change as he spoke to defend his position.
“You cannot believe this. The
man has forced her into a lie.”
Queen Aria looked at her husband’s
eyes and shook her head to assure him that she was telling the truth.
King Charles immediately began
to see what he had been blinded to for the past weeks. His eyes riveted toward
Roger.
“How is it that you know so
much information?”
Derrick began to move
nervously.
“I am King Derrick’s twin
brother.”
The reply brought several
surprised gasps from the crowd.
Suddenly everything began
making sense to Rosanna. She remembered the shock she had felt that night at
the mine, when she mistook Roger for Derrick.
Everyone turned to face Derrick
who had sweat pouring down his face.
The King's expression became
solid as he glared at Derrick. King Charles spoke quietly but everyone heard
him
“Guards, seize him.”
.“You can't do this!”
Derrick cried out as he began
looking around the room for some escape.
The King did not blink an eye
but when he spoke this time it was with more volume.
“Seize him!”
Sir Wright was not the only guard present but
he was the only one that was close enough to do the king’s bidding so he pushed
his way through the crowd. Derrick spotted him and began running in the
direction of a side door.
© Copyright by Valencia Shove 2012
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