so King Richard summoned Prince Edward to speak with him. "Edward, I've heard rumors that you've been spending time with an exiled witch," the king started. Edward began to explain, but before he could finish, the king interjected, "I think it's a great idea. Witches have a strong connection to the fiery ember ruby. Perhaps she could help us finally possess it."
Edward tried to express his concerns, "But father, I love her. I can't just use her like that..." However, his words were cut off by the king's anger. "Silence! What kind of prince falls in love with a witch and forsakes his kingdom? Make her do it, or she dies!" King Richard shouted.
Distressed, Edward went to Astra and informed her of the king's demands. But she refused, saying, "You have to do it, or he will kill you." Edward persisted, pleading with Astra. However, he was surprised by her answer. "I'm not meant to possess the ruby; I'm meant to destroy it," she revealed.
Shaken by this revelation, Edward ran to plead with his father, hoping to change his mind. Unfortunately, all he received was more anger and threats. The king was determined to kill Astra.
fueled by anger and astra rejecting him and his own pride, King Richard ordered his guards to ambush Astra within the Enchantwood Forest. She was apprehended and subjected to severe interrogations, torture, and cruel methods of extracting confessions of being a witch. Throughout her ordeal, Astra remained resolute, refusing to utter a word against herself. Ultimately, King Richard decided to execute her by hanging.
On the day of the execution, as Astra stood on the platform with a rope around her neck, she uttered a spell,.
From crown adorned with royal pride,
To cloak of darkness, witch shall ride.
Through time and space, they shall swap,
King Richard in the witch's shop. the spell her to switch places with an unsuspecting King Richard. In that instant, Astra escaped from the clutches of her captors, leaving King Richard trapped in her stead. With a heavy heart, she watched as the chair was pushed away, and her spell took effect, causing King Richard to meet his demise instead.
Astra, now free from the imminent threat, knew that she had to protect herself and the love she had found in King Edward. She used her magic to cloak her presence and she was never heard of again.