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As the guards marched grimly through the manor halls, a commotion arose ahead - a woman with purple in a maid outfit hurried towards them, falling to her knees in a desperate plea.
"Please!" cried Sarah. Her eyes brimmed with compassion for the wailing baby in their arms. "Spare the innocent life. Let me take the child - I will raise him as my own, just as the queen raised me."
But her courageous act was met with derision. King Aiden emerged from a doorway, eyes narrowing at the maid's insolence. "How dare a commoner wench disrupt the order of this house!" he snarled.
Sarah cowered under his looming fury, but her gaze remained fixed on the baby. "My lord, he is but a baby. Give him to me - I vow he shall know only kindness."
King Aiden's face twisted in disgust. "You overstep your lowly station, girl! A king need not justify himself to filth such as you even if you are a personal maid of my wife."
He closed in on Sarah, towering over her crumpled form. "Mark my words - interfere again, and it will be your wretched hide dangling from the gates. Now begone, before I have you flogged for such insolence!"
Head bowed in defeat, Sarah whispered one last plea before scurrying away. But the guards bore on, the baby's hysterical cries trailing them into the gathering dusk. Another soul lost to the whims of power and prejudice. Only time would tell if hope remained elsewhere for the poor outcast child...
Sarah scurried away with her head bowed, but as the guards continued toward the gates, a stern voice rang out:
"Wait!"
Everyone turned to see a formidable knight striding purposefully toward them. His armor gleamed in the moonlight, and his blue hair - this was Sir Richard, One of the most powerful knight.
"What's going on with all and the child you're carrying?" he questioned the guards sharply.
As they began to explain, Richard's eyes widened upon spotting the bawling infant. "An outcast child? Why has it not been seen to?"
"The king's orders were to dispose of it," one guard answered gruffly.
Richard's brow furrowed in dismay. But before he could respond, another figure caught his attention - Sarah, watching fearfully from the shadows.
"Sarah? What are you doing out here?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.
She stepped forward hesitantly. "Richard, please...beg the king and guards to have mercy on that baby. Let me take him, I swear no harm will come, and I am willing to accept any consequences."
Richard knew Sarah spoke the truth, but challenging the king's command was treason. As he struggled with indecision, the manor doors swung open once more.
"Explain this delay," boomed King Aiden's icy voice. Richard bowed hastily. "My king, the maid Sarah begs to adopt the child. Might we show mercy?"
King Aiden's eyes flashed with fury at such insolence. "Again you overstep. The order stands!" Sarah stifled a sob- what more could they do to save the innocent life in their midst?
"Execute the maid too," the king said.
Richard eyes widened, "What? But my lord—"
"The king's order."
The tension mounted as Richard found himself in an impossible situation. To defy the king meant certain death, yet abandoning an innocent to their fate went against all he held dear.
"I cannot, your Highness."
In that instant, King Aiden's hand shot out, tightening around Richard's throat with crushing force. A suffocating aura emanated from the King's flared stigmata, intense gravitational pressure bearing down.
"How despicable, know your place boy."
Richard grasped desperately at the hand, feet kicking uselessly as his throat constricted. Face purpling, he was thrown to the ground with bone-shaking force.
"Richard!!!! Noooo!!!" Sarah ran toward Richard who was lying on the ground after being thrown violently by the king.
Coughing violently, blood spilled from his mouth. Through watering eyes, he saw Sarah sobbing. King Aiden towered over him.
"Don't worry, **cough**, I'll be....fine."
"Execute them both," the King said, "Or die in their place."
Richard pushed himself off the cold ground. Blood stained his mouth as he glared defiance at the king.
"Forgive my rudeness. I will carry out your command, Your Highness," Richard said. King Aiden's eyes narrowed, suspecting treachery.
"The underground caverns, then. Take them there and ensure the deed is done." The king turned to his men. "Go with them. Make certain your captain does not falter in his loyalty."
Richard bowed his head wearily. He picked Sarah into his battered arms, he lifted the crying baby from the guards as well. Without a word, they left.
They descended into the ominous tunnels, guards flanking him.
As the torchlight flickered over mossy walls, hungry roars echoed ever louder. Sarah clutched Richard's armor in terror. But what fate awaited them in that intestinal nightmare?
Richard paused as the ominous noises grew nearer. Gathering his strength, he drew his sword with a steely rasp.
The guards tensed, hands hovering near their weapons. "What is the meaning of this, Captain?" one called out warily.
Richard turned, sword glinting in the torchlight. His eyes were resolute. "I cannot carry out the king's command. These lives will not be thrown away so callously."
The soldiers narrowed their eyes, readying for a fight. "Sorry, but I must do this."
Richard sprang into action. With lightning speed, he swung the hilt at the first guard's head with a heavy thunk.
The soldier dropped like a stone. Startled, the second guard drew his weapon - but Richard was already upon him. Metal rang as Richard parried the blade and delivered a savage kick to the man's chest.
The impact sent him crashing to the ground, throwing a torch tumbling from his grip to sputter in the damp dirt. Both threats were swiftly neutralized.
Richard turned back to Sarah. "We're safe for now."
"But Richard, defying the king is..."
Richard turned to Sarah as torchlight glinted off his sword. "I'll worry about that later. For now, let's escape this kingdom. There is a secret escape - follow swiftly and stay quiet."
He led them at a quick pace down twisting tunnels. More bestial roars echoed behind as the patrol's shouts grew nearer. Rounding a corner, Richard spied a narrow crevice and whispered hurriedly, "In here, it will lead us out."
Squeezing through the tight space with Sarah clutching the baby.