Jasper Jones Chapter 1 Alternate Ending

Guards guided the people toward the village, and the soldiers trudged toward the castle and stables. Faye and her children remained behind, as did Vaughan, Rignuth, Rory, and Dillan. The men bearing the king’s body remained there, too.
After Vaughan gave his wife and children kisses and long hugs, he took a knee before Audra, then leaned down and kissed her shoes. It was like nothing he had ever done before, not even in jest, this symbol of total submission.
“I offer you my life.” Vaughn kept his head bowed. “It is my fault the king is dead.”
“Mother, that’s not true,” said Rory, helping Vaughan up. “I’m the reason Father’s dead. I was caught by a group of Rhydderch’s men and Vaughan had to leave Father’s side to save me.”
Vaughan, his blue eyes reddening with sorrow, shook his head. “It all went right until it went
Vaughan and Rory traded looks, and Vaughan said, “Your husband spat in Rhydderch’s face and said, ‘Tell Audra I love her.’”
“Mam, we were so close,” Rory lamented.
“But too late,” Vaughan added. “Rhydderch swept his blade across your husband’s neck, beheading him. An instant later Rhydderch was back on his steed and riding off, surrounded by his men. In our shock, we didn’t go after him.”
The notion poor Rory had to see his father’s bloody execution made Audra shudder. She wondered how he would ever shake the misery and guilt over Carlton’s death, though it was in no way his fault. As Rory’s mother, she could not stop herself from embracing him. He stood stiff as a board for several heartbeats, then fell against her, his broad, hard chest heaving with sobs. She joined in, and they wept, losing all concept of time and place. In what might have been moments or hours, they settled, and Vaughan dropped his hands onto their shoulders.
“King Carlton told me where he keeps your letters.”
Audra wiped at her eyes. “Letters?”
“Goodbye letters, Mam. All the knights have them set aside.”
She straightened. “I’d like to see