Here we go, chapter two!

I realize that the first chapter may have left a few people in a tizzy, since so many things happened one after another, in just one chapter, no less, from the murder at the beginning to finding out that Zelda is dead at the end. But that's the last chapter of its kind. Every chapter from here on will only consist of a few scenes, maybe three at the most. But they're all very lengthy and filled with dialogue and information, so it's a good trade-off.

This chapter is taking us back in time six years to Link's very first trial. Chapters two, three and four are all the trial scenes, and we're gonna find out just what happened on that day.

Circles Soundtrack! If you go to sirjoshizzle(dot)blogspot(dot)com/2008/03/circles-soundtrack(dot)html, I compiled a collection of songs to go specifically with this story, spanning the four PW/AJ games, and even some Zelda music thrown in. They're all scene and character-specific, and I explain when they are played there. So to get the most out of this story (especially during cout chapters like this), I highly recommend you download them and read with them playing in the background.

One more thing: Circles is based on the Japanese judicial system, so explains the layout of the courtroom and the proceedings of the trials. That's why this is so different from the American court system.


Six Years Ago
Link Avalon's First Trial
The State vs. Zelda Harkinian

September 2, 2002; 9:42 AM
Hyrule Castle Town, Light Prefecture
Court of the Heavenly Goddesses—Defendant Lobby 5

Twenty-seven year old Link Avalon slumped onto the tan leather sofa, the cushions squeaking softly as he did so.

Goddesses… He hung his head between his legs, running a hand through his hair. I knew I should have had Shad come along… After all, he's much more experienced than me… If fact, he should have taken this case in the first place!

"Um… Mr. Avalon?" A soft, female voice spoke. He looked up, and saw his client, Zelda Harkinian.

Zelda Harkinian was the defendant in that day's trial. She was charged for the murder of her boyfriend, Kafei Kaminogi. Kafei himself was a lawyer—a defense attorney to be precise. The two had been eating lunch in the cafeteria at Hyrule University, where Zelda was applying for her registration, and that's when it happened. When he was poisoned to death. People claimed they saw her commit the murder—lacing his drink with poison.

The office Link worked at was notified of Zelda's case the day before. A woman who said she was Zelda's sister was asking—practically begging—for someone to take the case.

--

"Lon Law Offices," Link spoke into the phone, cradling it between his cheek and his neck as he continued to type on the.

"Yes…" A soft female voice asked. "I… I would like to inquire for a lawyer to… defend my sister?"

He paused his typing, straightening his back as he did so.

What should I say? Link thought as he looked behind him to the door leading to the office of his boss, Talon Lon. Should I forward this call to Mr. Lon?

"…This is Link Avalon, defense attorney…"

"Oh, thank goodness!" The woman sighed happily. "Mr. Avalon? Please, I know this is so sudden … But would you be my sister's lawyer? Her name is Zelda Harkinian."

Link stammered for a second. M-me!? I-I've never even taken a case yet! I-I'm practically still a law student! I'm not experienced enough to go to—

"Please, Mr. Avalon! My sister has no one else to turn to! I'm begging you, save my sister and prove her innocence!"

He didn't know what to say. He could hear the tears in her voice, how absolutely terrified she was… He just couldn't say no.

"…A-alright…" Link answered weakly.

--

"Not to sound rude," she smiled slightly, running her fingers through her long ponytail like a comb, "But I didn't think you'd actually show, especially since no one else trusted me."

"Of course I trust you," Link nodded, slightly furrowing his brow. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't."

As she walked closer to him, their first meeting in the detention center flashed back in his mind.

--

"A-are you… Zelda Harkinian?" Link stuttered nervously as the woman on the other side of the glass looked at him questioningly.

"Yes I am," she nodded. It amazed him, how calm she was even when she was put under so much suspicion. "Who are you?" Her eyes fell down to his chest, where his attorney's badge was pinned over his heart. Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Y-you're a—"

"Defense attorney," Link nodded with a small smile, finishing her sentence. "My name's Link Avalon… Your sister called the firm I work at."

Zelda stared at him for a moment. "…D-does that mean…"

"Your sister asked me to defend you," Link nodded again. "And I'm here to meet you personally, so we can talk."

"…So does that mean… you trust me?" She asked hopefully. "I didn't do it. You believe me… don't you, Mr. Avalon?"

"Of course I believe you,"he smiled.

"…Then will you take my case then?" She looked away from him for a second, a sad look on her face. "…Or will you refuse, like all the other lawyers I talked to?"She asked again.

Link's smile slowly faded as he raised an eyebrow slightly. Does she not want me to be her attorney?

"…It's up to you." Link finally said.

--

"Where's your sister?" Link looked around. "I thought she was going to show up."

"She'll be coming in later," Zelda replied. "She has a really important job interview." He nodded in response.

"…Judging from your voice," Link smiled softly. "I thought you were her for a moment… Your sister, I mean. You two sound the same."

"I'm not surprised," she laughed. "We're twins."

His brow shot up at that. "…Twins, huh?"

"Yes," she nodded. "We're identical. Very few people can tell us apart at first glance. Even then, it takes a while for people to remember which one of us is who."

So the Harkinian sisters… Link thought in his mind. They're twins, eh? Didn't expect that.

"…So, are you ready, Ms. Harkinian?" Link stood up, dusting his slacks off. "The trial's about to begin."

"I am," she smiled, tilting her head to the side.

He gestured to the double doors leading to the courtroom, motioning for her to go first. "Then let's go."

- - - - - - - - - -

September 2, 2002; 9:45 AM
Hyrule Castle Town, Light Prefecture
Court of the Heavenly Goddesses—Courtroom 5

Link stood behind the defense's desk, with Zelda standing next to him. Across from him on the other side of the courtroom was the prosecution's desk. Behind him and the prosecution's desk were the benches for the audience, which was made of sixteen people, eight people on each side. To his left was the witness stand, on the end of the courtroom, right in front of the exit. To his right, on the far end, was the judge's bench. Behind it was the presiding judge, Auru Sayje, a man in his late-forties who has been in law for over twenty-five years.

"Where's the prosecutor?" Zelda whispered to Link. He glanced over to the prosecution's desk, and sure enough, it was empty.

"I don't know," he shook his head.

The doors suddenly flew open. Everyone in the courtroom turned to the open double doors to see a man standing there. His skin was a dark brown. His eyes were like two blazing fireballs, burning holes into the heads of whoever looked in his direction. His red-orange hair was combed back neatly, and his clothing was sharp and sophisticated, like it cost a great deal of money.

Ganondorf Dragmire.

Of Gerudo descent, Ganondorf Dragmire was one of the best prosecutors in the prefecture, if not the best, and if not in the country. He became a prosecutor at the young age of twenty-one, and now at thirty-five, has never lost a single case. He would do anything to get his guilty verdict. He was feared by attorneys across the city, due to his intimidating stare and the lengths he was rumored to have no shame in going to, just to find people guilty.

So that's him, Link stared at him, sweat forming over his brow in nervousness.That's Ganondorf Dragmire.

Link has heard stories of the feared prosecutor. He thought that there could never be a person as infamous as Ganondorf Dragmire. He was wrong. The man's mere presence was enough to make a child cry. And to think that on his very first trial, he was facing a man who held fourteen years of law experience over his head.

"Ah, Mr. Dragmire," Auru spoke as Ganondorf stepped behind the prosecution's desk. "So nice of you to join us."

Ganondorf said nothing. He just chuckled softly, shaking his head at Link. "You're who I'm facing today, huh? …Never seen you around before."

"This is your first trial, correct?" Auru glanced in Link's direction.

"Y-yes," the attorney stuttered slightly. "I'm Link Avalon." Don't try to sound so nervous! You can do this, Link! Just focus and remember—Ms. Harkinian is innocent!

"Well then, Mr. Avalon," Auru nodded. "Court is now in session for the trial of Zelda Harkinian… Is the defense ready?"

"Yes, Your Honor," he looked over to him. "I'm ready."

"Is the prosecution, ready?" The judge turned to Ganondorf.

"What kind of question is that?" The Gerudo scoffed in reply. "If I weren't, would I be standing here?"

Auru flinched slightly at that, but he quickly regained his composure. Link caught sight of his and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

He's even got the judge scared! Who is this guy!?

"…W-well," Auru said, clearing his throat. "Mr. Dragmire, your opening statement, please?"

"It's fairly obvious why we're all here," he replied coldly. "A defense attorney, Kafei Kaminogi, was poisoned to death in the cafeteria of Hyrule University's Light Campus. His girlfriend, Ms. Zelda Harkinian, is guilty. I'm here to prove it to Mr. Avalon over here, who is clearly under the false impression that she is otherwise."

"I-I didn't kill him!" Zelda shouted at him as she slammed her hands against the desktop.

"Please, Ms. Harkinian," Auru turned to her. "Please refrain from any further outbursts."

"Yes, Ms. Harkinian," Ganondorf snickered at her. "Women have so much trouble learning their place…" He turned to Link. "You! If you can't even keep your client in line, what possessed you to think that you can clear her name of murder!?"

"U-ugh…" Link groaned almost inaudibly through gritted his teeth, glaring the prosecutor down. What the hell is this guy's problem!? Why doesn't the judge overrule him or something!?

"Mr. Dragmire," Auru slammed his gavel down to silence the whispering audience. "Your first witness, please?"

"…I call a woman to the stand," Ganondorf crossed his arms over his chest. "A woman who saw Ms. Harkinian poison the deadly coffee first-hand!"

Link's eyes widened at that. "W-what!?" He turned to Zelda with uncertain eyes. She caught sight of this and she pouted.

"W-why are you looking at me like that!?" Zelda whispered to him. "I told you I didn't kill him!"

Link gave her a hard look for a moment, but nodded, Ms. Harkinian… I hope you really are telling me the truth.

A woman who looked in her early twenties walked out from the double doors of the courtroom and directly to the witness stand in front of them, standing right in front of Auru. She had long red hair, dark brown eyes, and a slightly tan complexion.

"Witness," Ganondorf said to her. "State your name and occupation for the court."

"Malon Romani," she smiled. "I'm a nursing student at Hyrule U."

"And you say you saw Ms. Harkinian poison Mr. Kaminogi's drink?" Auru raised an eyebrow.

"That's right," she nodded.

"Ah…" He rubbed his chin. "…Then I suppose there's no reason for this trial to go any further…"

Link stared at him in disbelief. He can't be serious! "Y-Your Honor! She hasn't even testified yet!"

The judge stammered for a moment at that. "Ah! R-right… Ms. Romani, your testimony, if you please."

"Yes, Your Honor," she said.

"I was having lunch that day," Malon started. "The cafeteria was pretty crowded since I came in during the peak rush… But through the crowds, I saw a man sitting alone, drinking some coffee. Then a girl sat down across from him; it was the defendant. She poured something into his drink. It must have been the poison!" She exclaimed. "It must have been!"

"I see," Auru nodded, his eyes closed in thought. He opened one eyelid and looked at Link. "Mr. Avalon… You may begin your cross-examination."

"R-right!" Link answered. He looked over to Malon, who was fiddling with a stand of her hair. This is it, he thought to himself. It's time to get Ms. Harkinian's innocence!

"…Now," Link started slowly. "Ms. Romani, you're a student at Hyrule University, correct?"

"That's right," she replied. "A junior."

"…A junior, you say? …That's odd," he rubbed his chin. He picked up a paper from under his desk. "I have a schedule of the registration dates for Hyrule U.'s students with me. The day of the murder was the sophomore registration… The junior registration was the daybefore… Why were you still there?"

Malon looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "H-huh?"

"Objection!" Ganondorf interrupted. "Your Honor, I would like to know what this line of questioning has to do with the case at hand! Does it matter why she was at the cafeteria that day!?" He looked at Link. "She just said she was having lunch!"

Link flinched slightly at that.

Whatdoes this have to do with the murder!?

"Well, Mr. Avalon?" Auru gave him an accusing look. "Does it matter?"

"Excuse me!" Malon raised her hand. "If I may interrupt, I was at the university because the nursing program was having an orientation that day!"

Everyone looked at her. Link raised an eyebrow. "…A-an orientation?"

"Yeah," she answered. "I was accepted into it back in June, and the orientation for the program was that day. We were all on break, and I decided to have lunch at the school!"

"Ah… It seems your question did not relate to the case after all," Auru gave Link a suspicious look.

"U-um…!" Link gasped, clenching his teeth.

"Just like children to waste time," Ganondorf snickered, shaking his head in disapproval.

Link opened his mouth to retort, but the prosecutor cut him off. "Hurry up already and cross-examine her!"

The Hylian attorney drilled holes into Ganondorf's head with his hard gaze before cooling down and returning to Malon. "Um, okay… Witness, you said you saw my client put the poison into the victim's drink… Was it by any chance, this?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pink packet of sugar with the top ripped off.

Malon's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's it! That's what she poured into the drink!"

"Mr. Avalon!" Auru exclaimed. "What is that?"

"This, Your Honor, was found at the crime scene," Link held it up for everyone to see. "This is what our witness just claimed held the poison used to kill Mr. Kaminogi… But as you can see, other than the tear, there are no signs of it being tampered with!" He slammed his hands on the desk, setting down the pack of sugar as he did so. "How could my client have replaced the sugar inside with poison if it had never previously been opened!?"

Ganondorf grunted at that, staring at Link with hard eyes. "Objection! She obviously switched the packets!"

"Objection!" Link shook his head. "This was the only pack of sugar found at the table… Plus, it was tested by the precinct in charge of investigation, and there were no traces of any sort of poison found in it. Moreover, your witness claimed to have seen everything! If what you said was true, why didn't she see it when she was obviously watching the whole time!?"

"A-agh!" The Gerudo flinched. The audience began to murmur softly, but they were silenced by a slam of Auru's gavel.

"Order!" Auru yelled. "W-witness! What is the meaning of this!?"

Malon's brow was furrowed, and her eyes were filled with confusion. "…I saw… But that's what I saw! She poured whatever was in that pack into the drink!"

"Objection!" The prosecutor sighed in irritation. "It doesn't matter… Ms. Harkinian poured whatever it was that was in that packet of sugar and Mr. Kaminogi died! Anything else is irrelevant!"

"W-what!?" Link tensed.

"…And besides," he snickered. He reached into his desk and pulled out a folder. "I have the autopsy report right here."

Everyone in the room gasped at that. Auru stared at him, slamming his gavel. "Mr. Dragmire! Read to the court the contents immediately!"

"As you wish," he nodded, opening the folder. "…Died at roughly 12:15 PM on August 29, 2002. The cause of death was an over dosage of potassium cyanide, and died three minutes after swallowing it... The dosage was approximately 100 mg…" Ganondorf closed the folder and handed it to the bailiff for Auru to read himself. "…Mr. Avalon, please read us the net weight of that packet."

Link blinked for a second before picking up the pack. What's he getting at? He read the contents… "A-ah! O-one hundred milligrams!"

Auru shot up from reading the autopsy report to look at Link. "W… W-what!?"

"It seems that instead of helping your client…" Ganondorf laughed. "…You've dug her in deeper!"

"M-Mr. Avalon!" Zelda gasped. Link began sweating, his entire body shaking. G-Ganondorf set me up! He knew about the sugar packet! B-but how!?

"…O-objection!" Link threw the empty packet onto the table. "T-the weight of the contents in this packet doesn't matter! I doubt anyone in a manufacturing company would replace sugar with poison! The point is that what my client poured into the victim's drink was not the poison!"

"…Then what was it, exactly, if not poison?" Auru cocked an eyebrow. "Objection over—"

"Objection!" Ganondorf yelled again. He chuckled softly and turned to Auru, "I apologize for the mix-up, Your Honor… It's true that the packet Mr. Avalon just presented did not carry anything fatal…"

Link's jaw fell open. H-he knew!?

He reached under the desk for a clear glass bottle. "…On the contrary, this is what carried the murder weapon."

"What!?" Link stared at him. "What is that!?"

"This was tested at the precinct, and unlike that sugar pack, this tested positive for traces of cyanide. It was found in Ms. Harkinian's purse during her interrogation… And if it wasn't enough, it carries her fingerprints too!"

The audience began talking amongst themselves. Some eyed Zelda suspiciously. Some gave disapproving looks to Link.

"Order!" Auru roared over them. "Order!"

"Hold on!" Malon yelled out again. Everyone in the room turned to her. She grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of her head. "I… I think I remembered things wrong…"

Link scoffed in disbelief. "You can't be serious! You even pointed out that it was the packet that Ms. Harkinian put in the drink!"

"Yeah!" She nodded. "But remember I said that it was crowded? …People passed by, so I missed a few moments… She could have poisoned the drink then!"

Link stared at her, long and hard. He furrowed his brow in uncertainty.There's… There's something wrong with that statement… He glanced over to Ganondorf, and he was just standing behind his desk, his arms folded and his eyes closed. He doesn't notice it?

"So…" Malon started, nervously looking around. "…Am I done here?"

"Wait!" Link pointed at her. "I have something to ask you!"

"Mr. Avalon!" Auru cut in. "What's the meaning of—"

"Please, Your Honor!" The attorney turned to him. "If I could ask her one more thing!"

The judge stared at him for a moment, but nodded. "…Fine. Just one more question. But it better have something to do with the trial."

"It does," Link smiled. He turned back to Malon. "Ms. Romani…"

"What is it?" She asked.

"I remember you said the cafeteria that day was crowded, and people passed between you and Mr. Kaminogi before Ms. Harkinian sat down with him..."

Malon nodded and shrugged both her shoulders and an eyebrow slightly. "Yeah? So?"

"But if memory serves me right…" Link slammed a hand on the desk. I have her now… "You never testified that a crowd passed after she sat down!"

She jumped slightly at that, swallowing hard. "Ah! E-er…"

"Objection!" Ganondorf intervened yet again. "Are you deaf? She just said she remembered things wrong! Your Honor, overrule him!"

"Objection!" Link shook his head. "There's a difference between remembering things incorrectly… and contradicting yourself!"

"M-Mr. Avalon!" Auru looked at him. "Explain yourself!"

"Remember her original testimony," Link turned to him. "A crowd passed, but that's when the victim was alone… When it was gone, Ms. Harkinian appeared and sat down with him. The witness clearly testified that she saw everything from that moment on. But suddenly she brings up people passing by to obscure her view!?"

Auru nodded slowly at Link's explanation. "…Mr. Dragmire, Mr. Avalon's reasoning is without merit. That objection is sustained."

Ganondorf glared at Link, who was smirking cheekily at him. "Grr…"

"Witness!" Auru snapped at Malon. "What is the meaning of this!?"

Malon just stood there behind the stand, looking around the room; everyone's eyes were on her.

T-this can't be! Malon panicked in her head. M-Mr. Dragmire… I did exactly like he told be to… But him! She glanced to Link, who was whispering something to Zelda. Because of him, everything backfired! …I-I have to somehow prove to everyone that… That girl over there killed that guy!

"Y-Your Honor," Malon started. She quickly plastered on a smile to hide her nervousness. "I'd like to testify once again. A second crowd really did pass by, I swear!"

Both Link and Ganondorf turned to Auru, awaiting his answer. The judge sighed softly and nodded. "Fine. The witness may revise her testimony."

Link groaned under his breath. I was so sure I had her…What's she gonna say this time?

"Mr. Avalon," Zelda glanced over to him. He looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes?" He asked.

She just smiled and chuckled softly. "I have to say that for your first trial, this is… very exciting."

Both his eyebrows went up, but he blushed slightly and laughed it off. "T-thanks."

Malon cleared her throat and tucked some hair behind her ear. "Okay… After Ms. Harkinian sat down, she picked up a pack of sugar from the tray of food she came with, and poured it into his drink."

Link nodded at that. At least that much is true…

"She turned to reach into her purse, and she pulled out some half-empty bottle… I think that's the one Mr. Dragmire showed us." She scratched her head in thought. "Anyway… That's when the other crowd blocked my view. When they were gone, she was pouring the rest of the contents into that guy's cup! The guy took a drink from his coffee… Then all of a sudden he started choking and gasping! And then he… He died! She killed him!"

The audience began talking amongst themselves as soon as Malon finished.

"She…" Auru whispered. "She poured the poison into the victim's drink!?"

Link looked at Zelda in disbelief. W-was Malon really telling the truth!? "M-Ms Harkinian! Is what she just said true!?"

"Yes!" Auru cut in after he heard Link's question. "Did you pour the contents of the bottle of poison into Mr. Kaminogi's drink!?"

Zelda swallowed a few times before finally answering, "…Yes."

The entire courtroom was up in arms at her answer. Auru tried to silence them with his gavel, but the audience didn't relent.

"B-but I didn't know it was poison!" Zelda turned to Link, tears almost forming in her eyes. "Mr. Avalon, please believe me! Kafei asked if I had more sugar for his coffee. I looked into my purse because I had some leftovers from a coffee shop I went to that morning, and then I found the bottle! It said, "Sugar" on the side, and it was half-filled with what I thought was it! So I poured it in! He took a drink of the coffee… And then he died!"

Link just looked at her, his trust in her slowly slipping away. I want to believe her… so badly… But how can I… He glanced to Malon. …Whenthis comes up!?

"Ms. Harkinian…" Link whispered, but loud enough for her to hear over the chattering of the audience behind him. "What she said… And what you confessed to… Was rather incriminating…"

"But I swear I didn't kill him!" Zelda cried. "Y-you're my attorney! Of all the people in this courtroom, I'd expect you to believe me!"

Link stared at her sadly. She's right… I'm supposed to believe in her. She can't be lying about this… Those eyes are telling me the truth… W-wait! His eyes widened and he looked over to Malon.

"…You're lying!" Link yelled at Malon over the courtroom. Everyone fell completely silent after his outburst. Malon was staring back at him, right at his index finger pointed at her.

"E-excuse me!?" Malon snapped back angrily.

"You're lying, Ms. Romani!" Link reiterated himself, but in a much calmer voice. "You're lying, and I'll prove it!"

"Mr. Avalon!" Auru slammed down his gavel. "I want an explanation! Now!"

"The boy is delirious," Ganondorf laughed in amusement. "The trial is over, boy! Your client just confessed to her crime!"

"I beg to differ, Prosecutor Dragmire," Link grinned, using Ganondorf's title almost as a taunt. "This trial is far from over!"

"Your explanation!" Auru demanded of Link.

"Your Honor," Link turned to Auru. "Please reread to us the autopsy report for Kafei Kaminogi."

The judge eyed him suspiciously, but opened the folder of the autopsy and read aloud the report. "Defense attorney Kafei Kaminogi died at roughly 12:15 PM on August 29, 2002. The cause of death was an over dosage of potassium cyanide, and died three minutes after swallowing it—"

"Stop right there, Your Honor!" Link interrupted him. "That's where the witness is lying!"

Auru gave him a confused look. "What do you mean!?"

"Ms. Romani testified that Mr. Kaminogi died almost immediately after drinking the coffee after Ms. Harkinian poured the poison… But the autopsy clearly states three minutes passed between the poison consumption and the death!"

He slammed his fist on the table and turned to Malon with fiery eyes. "What happened to those three minutes!?"

"AHHH!" Malon yelped, covering her mouth in shock. N-noooooo!

Ganondorf was taken aback as the audience yet again started another upheaval.T-this rookie! He death glared Link. This little novice is making a fool of me!

"Order!" Auru yelled. "Order! Anyone speaking out of turn will be removed from my courtroom immediately! …Ms. Romani!? What is the meaning of this! Explain yourself! Now!"

Malon swallowed hard, breaking out into an uneasy sweat. Her shoulders were slightly raised from the tension in her muscles. "Uh! …Un… Mm…!"

"That's enough, witness," Ganondorf interrupted in an agitated voice.

"I…" Malon choked. "I'm sorry, Mr. Dragmire…"

He just glared at her from the corner of his eyes, shaking his head in disappointment.

"It seems that we learned very little from this witness' testimony other than an outline of what happened that day," Auru said.

"Your Honor," Link said to him. The middle-aged man turned to him with a questioning eyebrow. "I'm afraid I have to disagree with that."

"And why is that?" Auru's brow furrowed.

"We learned something very important from Ms. Romani's testimony," Link crossed his arms. "Something that changes the very nature of this case."

"And that is?" Auru asked.

"My client indeed poured the poison into Mr. Kaminogi's drink," Link explained. Zelda winced slightly. "…But it's clear that action was not the actual cause of death," he quickly added, trying to ease her with a reassuring smile. "Someone else poisoned him! And that person tried to frame Ms. Harkinian for the murder!"

Auru was taken aback. "M-Mr. Avalon!"

"The autopsy report states that between the poisoning and his actual death, three minutes passed in between." Link tried to clarify. "Zelda Harkinian unknowingly poisoned his coffee which he drank afterwards, but the autopsy suggests that the poison that killed him was already consumed. Ms. Romani said that the victim was alone for a moment before Ms. Harkinian sat down at the table with the food, meaning that she was gone for a moment… Someone slipped the poison into the drink during that time!"

"Objection!" Ganondorf interjected. "Ms. Harkinian was indeed gone! But on the way back to the table, she could have easily slipped the poison into the coffee then! That would explain the three-minute time gap!"

"Objection!" Link quickly shot back. "Were you not listening? Your witness clearly stated at the beginning of the trial that she saw the victim sitting, 'drinking some coffee'!"

The prosecutor grunted as his face twisted in frustration.

"Excellent assessment, Mr. Avalon," Auru nodded in approval. "You're quite an attorney, especially this being your first trial."

Link just smiled sheepishly. I suppose, but in the end, everything I pointed out this whole time was just common sense. He opened his mouth to say his mind, but he abruptly stopped himself, thinking that Auru would take personal offense.

"Ms. Romani, do you have anything else the court needs to know about?" Auru looked forward towards her. She was looking down in defeat, brushing away the hair falling into her face.

"She does not," Ganondorf answered for her. "My next witness is waiting in the prosecutor's lobby. I assure you that she will be of more use than Malon Romani has been."

Malon gasped sharply, his words stinging her. But she quickly settled down, rubbing her upper arm nervously.

"Very well," Auru nodded. "Ms. Romani is dismissed. Court will reconvene after a ten-minute recess with the prosecution's new witness."

And with that, Auru slammed his gavel down, the noise echoing through the court room.


That's part one of Zelda's trial. I wonder why Malon was so bent on trying to get Zelda guilty? Hmm, you'll find out later.

Enjoy Life and Smile.