The rope is waiting
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Chapter XIX: The Execution of the Sentence at the Gallows (Extended Version)
I. The Morning in the Prison
The morning was clear and filled with mild warmth. A gentle breeze swept across the land while inside the prison the air stood heavy and dull.
Ysabeau, Alinor, and Mariette, three women of noble birth, sat silently on the hard stone benches. Their faces pale, hands folded in their laps.
Two female warders entered, carrying simple bundles of white cloth in their arms. The penitents' gowns were floor-length, made of soft, thin cotton fabric that clung to the body like a nightdress. The wide neckline could be pulled over the shoulders to bare the neck.
Accompanying these was a plain headscarf, also made of soft, white cotton fabric. It was placed over the crown of the head, the ends pulled tightly down behind the head, and tied at the nape of the neck.
The purpose was clear: to hide the hair, leave the neck free, and lower the gaze before the Lord.
The women felt the firm pull of the fabric on their foreheads, the sting on their scalp beneath the pressure of the knot.
The warders tied the women’s hair into small, tight knots at the nape. The loose fabric of the penitents’ gowns brushed their ankles, the wide sleeves falling over their wrists.
Without a word, they were led onto an open cart, accompanied by the dull beat of drums.
II. At the Scaffold
The execution site lay in the open air. A simple gallows made of dark oak, from which three loose ropes dangled. Beneath each rope stood a plain, low wooden stool.
The executioner, his assistants, and the priest waited silently.
The women were led one by one onto the scaffold.
First, their feet were bound with soft, white cotton strips. The fabric was wrapped tightly around their ankles and carefully knotted.
The reason was clear: to prevent uncontrolled thrashing and to preserve the dignity of the execution.
Their hands were tied behind their backs with the same cloth. The skin stretched beneath the fabric; every movement became impossible.
Now the priest stepped forward. In his right hand, he held a shimmering crucifix made of dark wood and silver.
He said a brief prayer, then offered each woman the cross to kiss.
Ysabeau felt the cold metal on her lips, her hands trembling at the bonds.
Alinor pressed a silent kiss upon it, tears running beneath her lashes.
Mariette hesitated, closed her eyes, and touched the cross briefly with trembling lips.
The priest spoke the final prayer:
“Dominus sit cum te in hora mortis tuae.”
(May the Lord be with you in the hour of your death.)
Then each woman was blindfolded with a soft, white cloth.
The cotton was folded several times to form a smooth, cool band. The warder gently laid it over their closed eyelids, pulled the ends tight behind the head, and tied them above the headscarf.
This took away their last sight of the sky, the gallows, and the crowd. Only darkness remained, a muffled drumroll in their ears, the pressure of fabric over their eyes, and the burning in their throats from fear.
The penitents’ gowns were pulled back over their shoulders, leaving their necks completely bare.
The wind brushed over the exposed skin, causing the light fabric of the gowns to flutter around their ankles.
The executioner carefully placed the noose around each neck, the thick hemp rope rough against their skin. The knot was precisely set under the left ear.
Then the women were placed one by one on the low stools.
III. The Execution
At a silent signal from the executioner, the drumroll ceased.
The assistants stepped forward, grabbed the stools, and pulled them away abruptly.
A dull sound followed, then tense silence.
The women’s bodies fell. The rope snapped tight at their throats.
Their legs searched for support, kicking at the air, their feet twitching, but the bindings allowed little movement.
A dull pain exploded in the throat, a burning pressure rising as if an iron band was tightening around their necks.
Their chests cramped, lungs burned. Reflexes caused their knees to pull up as far as the bonds would allow.
The penitents’ gowns fluttered in the light wind.
The rope chafed their skin, their eyes behind the blindfolds filled with darkness and pain.
The priest whispered prayers, crucifix raised.
The convulsions gradually weakened. After about ten minutes, all was still.
Yet custom demanded that the bodies hang for a full hour, so that no one would doubt the sentence had been carried out.
IV. The Lowering
After an hour, the assistants stepped forward.
They untied the ropes one by one, letting the lifeless bodies gently sink to the ground.
The penitents’ gowns fell smooth; the rope marks showed deep and violet on their necks.
The blindfolds were removed; the cloth was damp on their cheeks from tears and sweat.
The headscarves were only removed when placing the bodies in the simple wooden coffins, each covered with a white cloth.
The women were laid in the coffins, the gowns smoothed, arms at their sides.
Their necks still bore the dark marks of the rope, their hair tangled beneath the headscarves.
A final prayer. The coffins were sealed.
The execution site was left empty, only the faint smell of hemp rope, sweat, and dusty wood lingering in the air.
I. The Morning in the Prison
The morning was clear and filled with mild warmth. A gentle breeze swept across the land while inside the prison the air stood heavy and dull.
Ysabeau, Alinor, and Mariette, three women of noble birth, sat silently on the hard stone benches. Their faces pale, hands folded in their laps.
Two female warders entered, carrying simple bundles of white cloth in their arms. The penitents' gowns were floor-length, made of soft, thin cotton fabric that clung to the body like a nightdress. The wide neckline could be pulled over the shoulders to bare the neck.
Accompanying these was a plain headscarf, also made of soft, white cotton fabric. It was placed over the crown of the head, the ends pulled tightly down behind the head, and tied at the nape of the neck.
The purpose was clear: to hide the hair, leave the neck free, and lower the gaze before the Lord.
The women felt the firm pull of the fabric on their foreheads, the sting on their scalp beneath the pressure of the knot.
The warders tied the women’s hair into small, tight knots at the nape. The loose fabric of the penitents’ gowns brushed their ankles, the wide sleeves falling over their wrists.
Without a word, they were led onto an open cart, accompanied by the dull beat of drums.
II. At the Scaffold
The execution site lay in the open air. A simple gallows made of dark oak, from which three loose ropes dangled. Beneath each rope stood a plain, low wooden stool.
The executioner, his assistants, and the priest waited silently.
The women were led one by one onto the scaffold.
First, their feet were bound with soft, white cotton strips. The fabric was wrapped tightly around their ankles and carefully knotted.
The reason was clear: to prevent uncontrolled thrashing and to preserve the dignity of the execution.
Their hands were tied behind their backs with the same cloth. The skin stretched beneath the fabric; every movement became impossible.
Now the priest stepped forward. In his right hand, he held a shimmering crucifix made of dark wood and silver.
He said a brief prayer, then offered each woman the cross to kiss.
Ysabeau felt the cold metal on her lips, her hands trembling at the bonds.
Alinor pressed a silent kiss upon it, tears running beneath her lashes.
Mariette hesitated, closed her eyes, and touched the cross briefly with trembling lips.
The priest spoke the final prayer:
“Dominus sit cum te in hora mortis tuae.”
(May the Lord be with you in the hour of your death.)
Then each woman was blindfolded with a soft, white cloth.
The cotton was folded several times to form a smooth, cool band. The warder gently laid it over their closed eyelids, pulled the ends tight behind the head, and tied them above the headscarf.
This took away their last sight of the sky, the gallows, and the crowd. Only darkness remained, a muffled drumroll in their ears, the pressure of fabric over their eyes, and the burning in their throats from fear.
The penitents’ gowns were pulled back over their shoulders, leaving their necks completely bare.
The wind brushed over the exposed skin, causing the light fabric of the gowns to flutter around their ankles.
The executioner carefully placed the noose around each neck, the thick hemp rope rough against their skin. The knot was precisely set under the left ear.
Then the women were placed one by one on the low stools.
III. The Execution
At a silent signal from the executioner, the drumroll ceased.
The assistants stepped forward, grabbed the stools, and pulled them away abruptly.
A dull sound followed, then tense silence.
The women’s bodies fell. The rope snapped tight at their throats.
Their legs searched for support, kicking at the air, their feet twitching, but the bindings allowed little movement.
A dull pain exploded in the throat, a burning pressure rising as if an iron band was tightening around their necks.
Their chests cramped, lungs burned. Reflexes caused their knees to pull up as far as the bonds would allow.
The penitents’ gowns fluttered in the light wind.
The rope chafed their skin, their eyes behind the blindfolds filled with darkness and pain.
The priest whispered prayers, crucifix raised.
The convulsions gradually weakened. After about ten minutes, all was still.
Yet custom demanded that the bodies hang for a full hour, so that no one would doubt the sentence had been carried out.
IV. The Lowering
After an hour, the assistants stepped forward.
They untied the ropes one by one, letting the lifeless bodies gently sink to the ground.
The penitents’ gowns fell smooth; the rope marks showed deep and violet on their necks.
The blindfolds were removed; the cloth was damp on their cheeks from tears and sweat.
The headscarves were only removed when placing the bodies in the simple wooden coffins, each covered with a white cloth.
The women were laid in the coffins, the gowns smoothed, arms at their sides.
Their necks still bore the dark marks of the rope, their hair tangled beneath the headscarves.
A final prayer. The coffins were sealed.
The execution site was left empty, only the faint smell of hemp rope, sweat, and dusty wood lingering in the air.
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