Chapter 13

"Did you just say lips?" Lilith asked, confused.

"I beg your finest pardon?" He said, finally looking up at her eyes and not her lips.

"I asked you whether you were okay and you said lips."

"I didn't say lips, I said yes. You misheard me." He said flustered.

"Hm okay. Do you want a bite of my pretzel?" She asked with shining eyes.

He had his but hers looked way more tempting and with her begging with those doe eyes. There was no way he could refuse her.

He took a bite of her pretzel, a wide bite.

Lilith looked at him dumbstruck. "You've almost finished the whole thing!"

He laughed at her expression, almost choking.

The people around them looked in some kind of torrid fascination and a combination of shock.

"Well then you can have it, we'll just have to switch since you've eaten the whole thing."

They switched their pretzels while laughing.

"What's your family like?" Kent asked out of the blue.

"I stayed with my mother. Until then you- know what happened. She was the sweetest most beautiful woman across the seven seas." She said,

"What about your father?"

"Oh." She said, her face turning into a sad expression.

"You won't have to talk about it if it pains you that much."

"No, it's fine. I'm fine." She said,

"Is he alive?"

"No, he was killed by his brother. Because of his brother."

"That must've been terrible."

"I was only 10 years of age…"

"Lilith come on. We need to get back to the house."

"I'm coming mama."

Lilith ran, putting her hand right in her mother's grasp.

"Is Papa going to be back today?"

"Yes, honey he is."

They quickly reach the house and Lilith sees her father cutting wood right in front.

"Papa!" She shouts running into his arms.

"My little fish." Her father responded by blowing air into her neck.

"That tickles." She laughed.

"Guess who's coming for dinner tonight."

"Who papa?" She asked excitedly.

"Uncle Gall and your cousin, Finn."

"Go inside and change sweetie."

"Okay, mama," Lilith said, walking inside.

"Gall's coming?" Lilith's mom asked harshly.

"Yes he is, those were just rumors from the town. He didn't spread any of those and nobody believes them either."

She sighed.

"You're thinking too much. It'll all be fine."

"He told the villagers that you were a witch."

"It's just a slimy rumor and he didn't tell them anything."

"I hope so."

Later that evening, Uncle Gall did come for dinner with Lilith's cousin, Finn.

They settled down for dinner and suddenly Gall remembered he had some wine to give to his brother.

"Oi I left the wine."

"I could go get it Father."

"Run along lad. Be careful on the way too."

Finn left to get the wine while everyone conversed at the table.

And suddenly there was a loud chant outside the door banging on the walls of the house.

"Kill the witch! Kill the witch!" They changed.

Lilith's mother looked at her dad confusedly and scared.

"You said it was just a rumor."

"It is. Take Lilith inside and stay there for a bit." He said.

She took Lilith into the room and he walked out with Gall at his back.

"What's going on?" He said.

They continued to chant.

Suddenly Gall started to shout " My son! He took my boy."

"What are you talking about? You told him to bring wine from your house."

*You've taken my son. Where's he? Bring him out right this moment." Gal said, wringing his shirt.

The villagers dragged him out of the house. He struggled out of the bounds they forced him into.

They screamed "Witch witch." Over and over again.

"I am not a witch. This is just a baseless accusation. Gall what are you doing?" He said turning to Gall who was also screaming witch.

"It was true after all."

"No, leave him alone." A voice shouted.

It was Lilith's mother with tears streaming down her face.

"My husband is innocent of all those claims. He is not a witch."

"Of course, you would try to defend him."

"Let's burn the witch," Gall shouted.

They dragged him across town reaching the town square, ignoring the cries and pleas of his wife.

"Gall, you know this isn't true. You have to stop this." Lilith's mother said firmly grasping his shirt.

"Leave me, woman. Today the throne will be all mine."

They reached the town square and he was tied to some sticks and plenty of dry grass underneath him.

"No, you cannot do this! I am not a witch! Gall tell them I'm not a witch." He shouted as they lit the grass underneath him drenching him with oil.

"Burn the witch! Burn the witch!" They shouted continuously.

Ach was lit and he started to burn, screaming in agony.

Lilith looked up from her mother's shaking shout to see her father screeching on a stick in the middle of people who seemed happy at his shouts of agony.

The screams of agony continued until there was no flesh left on him, only the smell of charring flesh hanging down on bones.

"Now we are free of the witch!" Gall shouted. The others echoed his shouts

Lilith's mother began to run in the direction of the lake. She held on to Lilith tightly as she dived into the water, swimming farther and farther and she reached the kingdom.

"My queen, are you all right?" Her servant asked.

"Order a meeting now with the other leaders. The King is dead and he was murdered by his brother, Prince Gall."

The meeting was ordered and the other leaders came around to discuss the matter and then Gall came in.

"Are we truly going to let a measly woman tell us what to do?" He said to the other leaders.

"Guards seize him immediately. Prince Gall, you're to be trialed on treason and murder of the King, and your execution day into he duly communicated." She said,

"W-what?" He asked confusedly.