Friday, May 4, 2012

Princess Rosanna 11


“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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