The king stammered pale in the face and backed away from the scaffolding with a look of fear as the people began to surrounding him some with irate expressions the executioner removed his hand from the lever as the guard who had been helping them began to untie the company and the man who had denounced the king ascended to the steps toward the princess "I should have done this long before..." he said with a sad expression as he took the hangman's noose from around her neck and undid her bound hands.  After she was free he knelled before her his head down exposing the back of his neck as a sign of respect and trust.  the crowd that was not trussing the king like a hog watched in amazement then, one by one coming to their senses they hit their knees.  Raoul moved forward as well and knelt before her exposing his neck, ever a loyal subject.  The cheers that rose were almost deafening as more people that were not originally part of the crowd spilled from their homes to watch calling to neighbors and friends to come see, to come kneel before the new queen.