Cora's POV

I smiled slightly as William led me through the gardens. He stopped to pick a flower before placing it in my hair. He did this Motion soft, and gentle, which I found amusing since his hands were large. As much as I was enjoying myself here with William and away from my troubles, I felt the Weight of the world on my shoulders. As I gazed at him doing the simplest of things, little things, that made me love him even more, I knew that soon it would be over.

"Are you alright?" He asked as he pulled me around to face him.

His concern torn into me like a knife. Here he was asking about my well being, when his was the one at stake.

"I'm fine." I lied, as I formed a fake smile. "Our weddings tomorrow." I said happily as I forced back the tears.

He oddly fell silent, as his hands cupped my face. "Everything's going to be alright Cora. I promise."

If he only knew..

~~~

Williams POV.

"We have to tell her!" I yelled angrily as I pushed back my seat and stood up.

"We can't." James said as he shifted uncomfortably in his own seat. "Her emotions have to be real if Xavier is going to buy it."

"So letting her go through with all of this is a better alternative?" I said glaring at James.

"Guys!" Norman yelled as he smashed his fist against the table. I was so raged I had almost forgot Norman was there. He to looked tired and angry "Arguing amongst ourselves it's pointless! Remember who's the real enemy."

James looked up at me from his seat at the table in my chambers and shook his head. "Normans right. This isn't solving anything, but you need to know I only have Cora's best interests in mind." He placed his elbows on the table and let his head sink into his hands. He looked so drained and frankly just done. "Xavier will know. Trust me! if Cora does not Believe the situation 100% neither will Xavier."

I looked to Norman who was looking up at me with sympathy. "I'm sorry William." He spoke truly.

I placed my hands on the backrest of the chair that moments before I had been sitting in. "Alright.. She won't know of any of this, but you should of seen how broken she looked this morning. I'm not sure she will even make it through tomorrow."

"She will." James said clear as day without a Second thought. "She's strong, and as hard as she feels for you, she won't let that come in the way of protecting her friends."

I didn't know whether to feel at ease or discomforted by what he said. I knew she didn't have a choice, but I didn't like the thought of her being able, or willing to kill me. If I were placed in her shoes, I'm not sure I could go through with it.. But then I looked at Norman, and thought about my mother.. And I wasn't so sure.

"Alright" Norman broke the silence of our thoughts. "Now we need to focus on the people he is holding Captive."

Beth was our Main priority since she was in the most danger, in the dungeon.

"I can get her out" I offered. Both men turned to me as I sat back on my chair. "I've sat at enough wedding plans to know that after the ceremony and party I do not go to Cora's chambers right away. She will first, they said something about 'she must prepare' or whatnot." I stopped talking as I realized what that meant. Both men wore awkward expressions and they waited for me to carry on. "As I was saying.. In that time I can slip away to the Dungeons and free Beth. No one will notice because.." I disappeared from sight mid sentence as I became invisible. "Well, I think it speaks for itself."

I saw Norman roll his eyes as I reappeared. James looked uncomfortable to say the least.

"What about the others?" James asked. "Like my family?"

"I guess me and you will have to help them ourselves since William will be busy freeing Beth, and trying not to be killed by Cora before the plan falls into place.

I nodded in agreement as my stomach turned to knots. "May I leave you two boys to it? I have wedding matters to attend to, and if I'm late it will only grow suspicion."

I stood up from the table and made my way to the door before turning around.
"I'll be back when I can to learn what kind of ridiculous plan you two come up with." This caused them both to laugh slightly as I closed the door behind me.
~~~

Rubys POV.

Is this really necessary? I asked the guards placed outside James's family's house. "Sorry Ruby, but as you know this is the Kings orders. These folks have potential committed treason, and if I get the word from the king, they are to be killed on spot."

I looked inside the window and saw a little girl that couldn't be older then seven by the name of liv. She was playing innocently with a doll made from straw. Little did these guards know that this family has not committed a single crime especially not treason. They were being held here to blackmail James, and from what I have witnessed it's working perfectly. I gripped my basket tight as I shoved my way passed the guards and made my way into James's home.

"Ruby dear!" James's mom Kimberly greeted me. "Such a nice surprise."

I felt a ping of guilt at that. Here they were. Thinking I was a nice, sweet, innocent girl simply bringing them food while on house arrest.

"Ruby!!" Liv glimmered as she jumped off of the window seal. She ran up to me and hugged my legs tightly. "What did you bring this time Ruby?" Liv asked me excitedly.

It reminded me of the first time I came to this house and watched the guards slop disgusting food on there plates. Kimberly warned her daughter that this was all the guards could give them at the moment and to be grateful for it. After that I couldn't pass a food stand let alone eat a decent meal without knowing that liv would to.

I smiled as I handed her the basket. "Why don't you go and see." I said as I watched her little face lite up.

"Thank you Ruby!!" She said as her little feet pitter pattered away.

Kimberly turned to me. Her face wore so much worry but through it all she somehow managed to smile. "You have done so much for us Ruby" she said as she pulled me into a hug. "We really couldn't thank you enough!" Her warm embrace caught me offguard. I swallowed hard, questioning what I was getting myself into.

~~~

New updated. Sorry for the long wait. Hope you liked it! Don't forget to Comment and vote!