The Circle Turned
This is a short AU were each one of the Circle had a slightly different childhood.
Ghost's Trial
I don't own anything but my own ideas.
When the guards came to drag her and the others to the magistrate, Ghost didn't bother resisting. She held her head high and looked everyone in the eyes. She would keep her dignity.
In truth, the redhead looked terrifying. A dirty, young, malnourished ten year old girl had never looked so imposing. Her unmanageable curls seemed to crackle and pop, whipping about her as if blowing in a harsh wind. Her eyes were like the ice of an avalanche. The whole aura about her screamed power, which contrasted sharply with the reality of her being a young girl about to get sent off to what could be her death.
Even as quickly as the guards pushed their captives- cracking whips for some of the less complient prisoners, Ghost managed to keep up her dignified stride. However, by the time she reached the large room of her trial she was puffing and out of breath. She tried to hide it and control herself, facing the room with a stoic expression. As scared as she was, her pride was still too great to let her show weakness.
The huge chamber was filled with people, from the gray robed magistrate, to clerks, to civilians. Ghost listened to ever word as people testified against her gang. Not a word about her personally, just the gang in general, and yet these were the words that would condemn her. This wasn't a 'trial,' it was cleaning up the trash. However, Ghost knew she was guilty. She was more guilty than the court would ever know. So Ghost did not feel too injusticed. The crimes might not have all belonged to her but she had committed her fair share. She was a criminal and very fortunate the court didn't know what she had done. She wouldn't hang as a murderer.
When the testimony was done, the judge started going through the gang with a practiced efficiency. She would call a name, check their hands for tattoos and send them off to their punishment. When she finally got to Ghost the judge meant to only look at her hands but was caught in her ice cold stare. The previously bored looking judge shivered before consigning her to the docks.
Ghost took a deep breath and tried not to panic. It would be the most enjoyable. She loved the sea.
But it was tempting fate. What if her spirit killed someone again?
Ghost really didn't want to hurt anyone. A protesting yelp even left her throat as she was pulled to a separate pen from the one that held Weevil and Viper.
"A moment." A light male voice said. It wasn't a request but a command. The room seemed to freeze and Ghost turned to see who held that much power in the courtroom.
Strangely, it was a civilian. A rich civilian, she could tell from deep blue over robe that her parents would have sold for a couple of silver astrels. He wasn't a lawyer or a soldier and she could tell he wasn't a merchant. However the way he wore power he was somebody important.
"May I see the girl again?" The man inquired. Ghost began to get worried.
"Bring her." The judge ordered the guards, not sounding happy to bring the creepy girl back.
Ghost was led to stand in front of the man. She studied him nervously but kept her cool demeanor. This would not end well for her. She could think of no possible situation where attention from a rich man was good news. Money-bags never were.
As much as she found slang distasteful, the label of 'Bag' did seem to fit. Street words had long ago invaded her mind and although she would rarely say them, they did exist just as much as any other word in her vocabulary.
The Bag leaned in close to the judge and whispered something she found distasteful. He held up a letter with a beribboned seal on it, showing it to her carefully. The judge took another nervous look at Ghost but nodded at the man. "Their Majesties are inclined to mercy, as you are but a youth," the judge rattled off quickly, eager to get the girl away from her, "You have a choice- the docks, or exile from Sotat and service at the-" she faltered as the Bag leaned into whisper at her.
Once the man pulled away, he looked straight at Ghost. Their eyes met but she never once blinked, never giving in to the powerful black gaze. She was surprised to find that he didn't look like the Thief Lord, or other degenerates with less than good intentions. He had a look about him that wasn't scheming or ugly. Ghost wasn't sure what to think of that. She had long since abandoned the belief that people could be good instead of monsters, but this man looked like he would be one to stop monsters. Who was this Bag? What was this offer of exile? Who did he want her in service too? How could he not have the calculating sinister look of every other man who had wanted to use her?
The man did not make proper sense.
"You have the choice of the docks, or an apprenticeship to the Winding Circle Temple in Emelan," the judge went on, "until you take formal vows at the temple, or it's governing council rules that you are fit to enter society. Temple or docks, girl. Choose."
A temple? The Bag was not a temple guy. No dedicate would wear that mans finery. None of this made sense!
"Why?" Ghost had to ask, but neither seemed to want to answer. She had to choose first. She felt like she was playing a game in which she didn't know the rules. It made her nervous. It made her almost pick the docks. At least she knew what to expect there...
But potentially killing people wasn't an option. She had enough nightmares as it was. She would play the man's game for now. Emelan was at least far enough to escape the Thief Lord's control.
"I choose to go to the temple." Ghost spoke clearly, her words holding little trace of her years on the street.
"Make out transfer papers," the judge told a clerk. "Master Niklaren-" Ghost immediately stored the Bag's name, "-will you take charge of her?"
"Of course."
Ghost almost changed her mind right then. She did not want to belong to this Niklaren bag. But she stubbornly kept her mouth firmly in a line.
"I can't make out papers for a 'Ghost,'" whined the clerk, "Not to a temple."
"This is a chance, lass." Niklaren's voice was light in tone for a man's. "You can pick a name, one that's yours alone. You can choose how you will be seen from now on."
Ghost glowered at them. She didn't want to pick a new name. She wanted her old one, and if this was an opportunity to take it back then she would. A shade of her old merchant self remained proud of her heritage even while the rest of her cursed her family with the foulest of fates. In addition, anything was better than 'Ghost'. The way she hated her spirit, she certainly didn't want to be called for it.
"I already have a name. My name is Trisana." The girl answered, using her birth-name for the first time in years.
"You need a last name." The clerk mentioned impatiently.
"Hurry up girl, I have oth-" the judge stopped in the chill of the girl's eyes.
The last name was more of a tricky subject. She remembered her family's name very clearly. It was important. However, her family had abandoned her. She wanted nothing more to do with them. She didn't even want to think of them. But what else could she use? She wasn't going to have anything referencing her spirit- not after being called Ghost for so long. She refused to use any of its powers either, so no Lightning, Wind, Rain or Storm. She may have liked the sea but it didn't feel right, and neither did Cloud. Briefly she even considered Moss after the plant in her cell but shook her head. That one was felt funny but decidedly not for her. Plus, who picks a name from a prison cell? She wanted respect in life.
With a cruel twist of her lips, the girl said, "Chandler." Maybe some would recognize the name and see how far they had let one of there own fall. Maybe she could disgrace her family the way they had disgraced her.
The clerk and a few people around the chamber looked at her strangely but wrote down the name anyways, "Trisana Chandler," he said aloud as he his quill transcribed the name, "Master Niko, I'll need your signature."
The girl who formerly been known as Ghost tried to figure 'Master Niko' out as he signed with an educated flourish. Was he some teacher or scholar? No. She glanced at him again- Mage. That would explain everything.
"Cut her loose." Master Niklaren ordered the guards,
"Are you sure that's wise?" One of them spoke, really not wanting to get that close to her, "Your pardon sir, but you don't know what she's like!"
Neither do you! The girl wanted to retort. She hadn't done anything to the man, she wasn't one of the kids that fought tooth and nail out of spite. In her opinion, she had been rather polite actually. But she was used to people turning against her without a logical explanation. That's why she was so surprised at Master Niklaren's next words.
The guard had kept spewing muck about her until Master Niklaren interupted him mid sentence,
"Are those remarks addressed to me?"
The room seemed to grow colder, but not literally for which the girl was grateful for. She didn't want her spirit getting loose here. Master Niklaren's tone was enough punishment for the guard.
"Trisana won't run, will you girl?" Master Niklaren asked her. The girl shivered from being addressed as such for the first time in such a long time. Memories haunted that name, none of them good.
"Tris." She responded,
"I'm sorry, what?" Master Niklaren looked perplexed,
"I would appreciate if you would call me Tris." She explained, feeling her face turning red from embarrassment,
"Of course." The man replied smoothly, "And you will stay? Won't you?"
She had no where else to run to, and no other options. Logic promised she wouldn't run. As wary as she was about Master Niko and the temple, she was almost interested. A temple had books and she hadn't read a good one in too long. A temple was better than being a street thief- it had to be. She'd already made the decision.
"Yes." Tris told him, "I will not run."
At least, she amended in her mind, not unless she needed to. She still didn't trust the man. But as long as he remained civil, so would she. She just hoped she could keep control of her temper, she really didn't need the spirit doing anything.
A\N: Wow! This got long! Ok, it's not that long but I meant for each chapter to have all four of them. However, due to the sheer bulk of this (and time it took!) I decided to break it up. I suppose this means I am continuing this. So yay I suppose. I will say right here that I make no promises on the speed of my updates. I have too much other things on my plate at this time to even attempt some kind of regular updating schedule.
Also, thanks for the reviews and reading this everyone!
ultima-owner- Glad you find it so! I know the reason I even decided to write this is because I found it so intriguing- a massive what if. Anyways, thank you so much for reviewing!
Infinitechange- Yep. There are a lot of possibilities to consider. Everyone meeting is already going to be way different and everything else will just kind of explode from there. I know at the moment I'm sticking close to what happened in the books because I know that as soon as I get away from that then everything is going to change so dramatically. Soon though, I'm just going to let it explode and deal with all the consequences. I just want to get them together before I change to much. I know I'm really looking forward to Briar and Sandry meeting, as well as Tris and Briar. Niko is going to think the Chandlers are worst people ever since they've dumped two young girls- in fact I might have to write a chapter about him confronting them with that when I get there... And yeah, there is so much to consider! That's what makes this fic fun! Also, thanks so much for your review- it made me think at the same time as being happy for getting a review. Seriously, it deserves a virtual cookie :)
Diaboli Advotacus- Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. I hope this chapter is up to scratch. Thanks again for your wonderful, complimenting review!
mistrali- Well I'm glad you like the idea. It just kind of came randomly to me, so I'm happy it actually works in a way. I do agree with you that I did much better with Tris and Briar than Sandry and Daja. Briar and Tris kind of share the spot for favorite character so their sections were easier for me to come up with for some reason. Sandry and Daja's stuff should get better though, I have some ideas that will spruce their parts up. Thanks for reviewing, especially with the criticism!
W8ing4UniBook - Yeah... I really don't mean to be that person. I know exactly what your talking about and I hate when that happens to me. So, here's another chapter! Read and enjoy! More will be coming. It may take a while but this won't be just a taunting taste of something. Thanks for reviewing and well, um, encouraging me to write this chapter. I hope you like it!
Fiery angel- I have! I have! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks so much for your review!
Also, I will give an open invitation for anyone who wants to write in this 'verse right here and now. I doubt anyone will want to take me up on it but I know sometimes you do see an idea and want to use it. I mean, we're fanfic writers, that's kinda what we do. So, just saying that I do share :)
Although does anyone have a cool name for this 'verse? Since I'm writing more, that will probably turn to related oneshots and the like for this AU and "Turns-verse" just doesn't sound right. I don't know. I'll think about it. I'll find something.
And now I will actually post this and let you read it instead of typing more on this already long authors note. Again, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I thank you for reading it!
