ATmac05: Third chapter's here. FINALLY! I really want to say sorry for the long time it took to update. Especially after all the nice reviews I got! So thanks, and I promise to not have the next chapter take as long. No spoilers, really. And I did no grammar check or spell check past the Microsoft Word function so if there are missing words or something I apologize. Okay, enough talking, let's go on…


A Pleasant Lie: Chapter Three

Relj's Heart: Trial by the Elders

"Let thy people listen to thine Elder of the Wood. For she hast the strongest and most knowledge of the Wood, and does best to exercise they will. The Wood speaks through the Elder, and thus the will of the Elder is undoubtedly the Will of the Wood."

--Intricacy 2: 401


Fran supported the infant Viera within her arms, while Relj coasted behind her with the deadened Hume in hers. The two females said nothing to one another, for their purposes had converged, and finally they were in agreement. The pain and suffering of any type of being was intolerable, and they both refused to ignore any sort of strife that they could have possibly prevented. So, while carefully avoiding Malboros, Gargoyles, Panthers, and any other type of creature that could threaten them, they returned into the thick of the forest, and called upon the hidden path that led into Eruyt Village.

Unlike the time of their exit, the village entry was now somewhat crowded with Vieras. Most of them soldiers draped in heavy armor, prepping themselves to leave into the jungle. All at once upon seeing the two young girls, they breathed sighs of relief. A very tall muscular Viera that Fran had seen hanging around Jote stepped to her.

In a deep yet smooth voice she spoke. "Mistress Fran, your sister was very worried of your whereabouts. She requested that a team be dispatched to find you." She paused and looked at Relj, who was almost as tall as she. "You two, Mistress Relj."

Fran was afraid to speak, for the soldier—named Amyre, had yet to inquire about the baby in her arms, or the woman in Relj's. But still, Fran could see the other soldiers peering carefully and were obviously interested in their quarry.

Amyre took no time in satisfying their interests. "Mistress Fran, may I ask of you what is in your arms?"

Fran nodded. "Yes, but I shall not let you see it, nor what Relj has. I wish to see my sister first."

The solider squinted her eyes in suspicious superciliousness, how dare Fran make such an order with such a lack of respect upon her. Still, Amyre knew that Fran was valuable to the village, and she abided without verbal resistance. With a snap of her fingers, Amyre led her soldiers into the centre of the village to retrieve Jote.

Relj finally spoke, and her voice was quivering. "F-Fran, I'm scared. Wh—what w-will happen to us?" She was on the brink of tears. "We've brought Humes into v-village! We could die!"

Fran was equally scared, but the more emotionally rational. "Calm yourself, we've brought an unconscious Hume, and a baby Viera. Neither of these—parcels—are any threats to the village."

"Don't call them that, Fran. We may have a Hume, and a Viera not of the Wood, but please don't belittle them to objects. They still are living creatures."

Fran had to hold back a tear. Despite the pain and suffering Relj had sustained when dealing with outsiders. She still chose to stay on their side. This may in the end be her demise, but Fran admired the strength through which Relj found her resolve. She was disobeying the Wood in every respect, but her ideals gave way to something just as powerful.

Love. And not only for herself, but for every living thing that ever wanted to be happy in this world.

Could they really be punished for that?


Amyre returned shortly afterwards with her band of wiry soldiers encircling none other but the tall and forbearing Jote. Her presence seemed even more dominant and commanding than ever before. In part because she was now wearing the gold and white robes of the Priestesses, and because she had the angriest face about her that Fran had ever seen.

"Fran." She growled, showing the ferociousness that Vieras sustained until battle. "Do not think I am unaware of your actions. The Wood and the Elders all know of your escapades!"

Fran gulped, and she heard Relj whimper behind her. Jote came forth and stood unnaturally close to Fran. The younger Viera could feel the anger seething off Jote's body as the apprentice priestess yanked the baby with one arm and thrust her so powerfully into the hands of another soldier that it was almost a toss. Jote then raised her hand, and slapped Fran so powerfully across the face that she tumbled and skidded across the ground. Jote then threw a quick glance at Relj, who was now crying severely.

"Jote…" Fran breathed. "Why all this harshness…?"

"Why? Because you know better than this Fran! The Wood strictly states that we are not to allow other races in our village, or even associate ourselves with them. And now you—the sister of a soon-to-be priestess no less—brings a foul Hume into our midst! Don't you remember, Fran? Or have you forgotten the stench of the horrid Hume who came into our village and murdered our mother before stealing our valuables!"

Fran coughed some dirt from her mouth before pushing herself back up. Standing strong, she responded. "Jote! Do not overreact so! I know just as well as you do the underhandedness of Humes! But we found one hurt and limping! And not only that! She was holding a baby Viera! One of our own kind!"

Jote's teeth were bared. "Tis not one of our kind! It has been outside the sanctity of the Wood and into the world of the Humes and is therefore of them! We cannot allow such things into our home!"

"You speak hypocrisy!" Fran bellowed. Jote yelped in aghast upon hearing this. "You say we are not to associate ourselves with Humes! Yet, you refuse to justify the wearing of those shoes that the Humes created! The Wood, the Intricacy, and the Elders all tell us to love one another and that life is precious, why then does that only apply to Vieras? You say that the baby has been fouled by the world of the Humes. But we all walk the same land! We live in the same world!"

Jote lurched forth and smacked Fran once again across the face. But the angered Viera refused to lose her ground this time, after the strike she bounded back up and tackled her elder sister. They both fell to the ground with in recoil, and then began violently clawing at each other. The soldiers at once reached for the two fighters. Relj in the meantime had began sobbing so greatly that her tears were now dampening the clothes of the Hume she held in her arms. The sound of the screams and grunts of all those involved in the confrontation could be heard piercing through the silence of Eruyt Village, and Relj sensed deep in her heart a massive change that was shaking the very foundations of the Wood.

When the soldiers had finally separated the fighting siblings away from each other, it was visible that both girls had been crying during the small tussle. Pieces of Fran's hair had been ripped out, and Jote's robes had been torn just as well.

"I see you are like this now, sister!" Fran screamed whilst held back by soldiers. "So infatuated with becoming a priestess that you've lost the rationality of heart!"

"The feeling is mutual, Fran!" Jote retorted, also restrained. "I grew worried when you refused to cut your hair! A piece of you admires the Humes, huh? Well you can turn your back on your home if you wish, but know that you'll face only sadness!"

The two said nothing to each other verbally, though disdainful glances at one another kept the argument going on for an even longer period of time.


Fran, along with Relj, had retreated to her Hollow. Her sobbing friend had refused to go home until her mother had finished all her appointments, undoubtedly she had heard of the mishap, and Relj was scared of the recrimination. Fran did her best to console her Relj, but the tall sinewy viera seemed never to falter in her ongoing tears.

They sat on the bed, with Fran holding Relj tightly in her arms.

"This is my fault," said Relj. Her tears wet Fran's shoulders. "The Wood is punishing me for repeating my ritual without proper procedure. Not only that, but I mated with an outsider. That's even worse, Fran!"

Fran sighed. "Relj, you mustn't blame yourself for acting on instinct."

"Even if I stopped blaming myself, the Wood still would find fault in my actions. Fran, don't you see? Even if we do what we feel is right, we in fact aren't right unless our actions are ordained by the Wood. We thought we were doing a good deed by helping the Hume woman and the Vieran infant, but we brought outsiders into the village, and therefore we are sinners."

The long-haired viera just looked upon her friend, knowing her in heart that she was right. The village outlined what the will of the Wood was and wasn't, Relj and her had acted against those rules. Feeling that they had done right did not truly prove they were right. But then again, Fran pondered, what proof does the Wood have that their actions were wrong? Of course, it branded names on their actions 'bringing outsiders into the Wood, disobeying the Wood', but was that really proof what they had done was wrong? And most importantly, why was it wrong?

These thoughts swelled in Fran's head, and she began to grow very tired while holding her friend. She gripped Relj's shoulders more tightly and began to push her back gently to tell her of her weariness. As she pushed her younger friend back she noticed something.

Relj had begun to grow eyelashes.

They weren't yet very long or voluminous, but they were there.

Suddenly the panic that had consumed Relj entered Fran, and her mind started to become chaotic with panic, still though, seeing as Relj was already just as saddened she decided to maintain her composure. She would tell Relj as tactfully as possibly.

"Relj…"

The sobbing viera looked up, her wide eyes shiny with tears.

"You—have eyelashes."

Relj made no immediate reaction, almost as if she didn't hear what was said at first. An eyebrow rose in confusion, and the tall girl slowly raised her hand up to her eyelids. With a heavy breath she gently grazed her fingertip along the edges of her left eye, and Fran could see the small eyelashes shifting with the added force. Relj lowered her hand, and she didn't cry. She just lay back on Fran's bed, and stared at the ceiling.

"This can't be happening…" She said with an unnerving quietness that was unbecoming of her.

"Relj, have you had the ritual with any other…?"

"No—just the Hume, it'll be a half-breed Fran, they'll kill it….They will kill my baby, and then they might punish me as well for lying down with a Hume."

Fran stood and walked over to her armoire, she briskly opened it and reached into the bottom drawers and pulled out a small razor shaped like a crescent moon. It shone in the soft light of the room. "We'll be fine; we just have to cut those eyelashes off until we figure out what they're going to do with us, the baby viera, and the Hume woman. Once we know that, we can devise a plan to eventually get us all safe."


Shortly after all of Relj's eyelashes had been severed, something knocked upon Fran's door. The viera asked who was there, and a gruff voice replied.

"An official from the elder council."

Upon opening the door Fran was once again greeted with a tall and sturdy Viera clad in thin armor. The official strangely even wore a full-faced helmet. Fran greeted her with a handshake and the official reached into her armor and removed a small cylinder of parchment sealed by a green ribbon.

"Mistress Fran, you and your companion Relj have been summoned to an inquisition at the request of the Elders. You are to report to the Central Quad in a half-hour." The official's voice was weighted with a tone of regret. "You are charged with a first-degree act of leaving the village without proper clearance. A second-degree act of Village Endangerment by bringing outsiders into the village, and a first-degree act of striking a holy authority."

Fran scoffed. "That holy authority was also my sister. Am I really to be reprimanded for fighting my sibling? Something that is common to the village?"

"I apologize ma'am, but these are the charges of the Elders. They are not to be questioned. Be ready by the appointed time, I will be downstairs to escort you."


The walk to the Central Quad was an embarrassing one. It seemed that everyone in the village had heard of Relj's and Fran's misdemeanors, and saw no shame in gossiping about it right in front of the two as they traveled. What made the trek even more disgruntling was the fact that because they were to be put on trial, they had to wear heavy black robes that covered up every part of their body. Even their ears were painfully folded down under a heavy hood that had to wear. Only the sullen faces of the two accused young Vieras could be seen by onlookers.

The official led them past the salon where Fran was to have her hair cut, and then through a pair of Hollows that stood awkwardly away from the others. After that they headed up a long staircase that took them to another section of the Central Quad, Fran had never seen this area for it was in the midst of heavy shrubbery and trees. Still, they climbed even more, till they seemed so high up that they were almost near the very canopies of the village. It was at the peak of their ascent that they saw a large Hollow that was made out of pure marble. In fact, it could barely be called a Hollow in any way because it lacked the bark of tree that all Hollows were made of. It stood tall and square, overbearing in presence, and centered in its door was the oath taken by all Vieras.

Thy Wood is my strength, thy Wood is my glory, they Wood is my law,

And thusly thy Wood is my will.

Forever and through eternity.

The official walked them up to the door and tapped on it three times with the knuckle of her middle finger. The tall door then slowly slid open after the echo of the taps ceased in the eerie silence of the canopy. Only darkness could be seen from within, and the official then motioned for Relj and Fran to enter. They reluctantly followed.

Inside, the darkness did not yield. The two slowly proceeded forward, and flinched slightly when the door slammed heavily behind them. Fran could not see Relj next to her, but she could still hear her crying once again. Hard to believe that this was the strong viera that had gotten them into this mess. Fran thought. Feeling as if it was her duty, she straightened her back and led them forward into the darkness, holding Relj's hand the entire time.

Finally, when she felt the material of the floor beneath her feet change, she stopped.

The voice spoken was so soft and whispery that she knew it could've only been spoken into her mind.

Fran, you are to now remove your robes and bow down before the Elders.

Fran, despite fearing she being naked suddenly, followed suit. Relj must've heard the same command as well, because Fran could hear her removing her clothing.

The two unbeknownst to each other bowed in unison right afterwards.

You two are now deemed as sinners by the Will of the Wood. Because you have been put on trial by the Elders of the Wood. Your nakedness shall remind you of your humility, and because you are in the most sacred and holy spot in the entire village. Committing any sin here will result in death.

Another voice, one that sounded even more elderly began to speak.

If you two are wondering why we speak into your minds, we do this so that we know whether or not you are lying and so that we can find all of your sins. I sense that one of you has a question, so speak it aloud now.

It was Relj, who was absolutely quivering at that moment. "I wanted to know if you would delve into our minds to find out things that we are not on trial for!"

Why, child, are you interested? Do you in fact have something to hide?

Relj started to respond negative, but then realized that she couldn't commit a sin.

"Yes, elder! I do have something that I wish to keep secret!"

We respect the mind of the Viera, as law of the Wood. We will not invade your secrets unless you try to keep them from us when they are inquired of you. If what you wish to hide has nothing to do with this trial, then you are safe.

Fran thought this extremely rude and unjust, and hoped that the Elders could not hear her thoughts as that notion passed through her mind. It seemed that because she knew that they could find out every secret she ever held, the more she thought of said secrets. And she knew at that point that even though they promised not to pry, just the mere thought of one's mind would be conveyed to them. They would never need to pry.

You are correct, Fran. Said the previous voice.

In that case, thought Fran, technically they lied. Fran stiffened at this thought, but none of the Elders seemed to respond to it.

Let us say, the first voice spoke, that we are deeply saddened that the daughter of the village hair-cutter, and the younger sibling of our top apprentice priestesses are the individuals on trial today. How do you plead?

"Guilty," said the two girls. In their hearts they believed their acts proper and just, but knew that they were still in fact crimes against the village.

You acknowledge your ill-deeds?

Fran felt the urge to be bold. "Yes, for we fail to see the wrong in our actions. Rather—feel—the wrong of our actions. We can see perfectly why we are on trial. We just—"

Understood. Please, reiterate the events leading up to your trial. We will hear your sides of the story as proper by the law of the Wood. Your verdict will be decided shortly thereafter.

The two vieras both started to speak at the same time. But Relj, feeling guiltier in her actions than Fran, allowed the latter to speak. So Fran began, she told as exquisitely as she could of Relj's proposal and their duel efforts in trying to discover the nearby Humes. She then told them of how they discovered the Viera baby accompanying the Hume. Fran did her best to make it apparent that they meant no harm, and had to original intentions of bringing others into the village. The only thing she failed to reveal was what Relj had told her in regards to her repeated ritual. Although, she still had the horrible feeling that the elders already new.

The elders thanked Fran and Relj before going silent for a short while. While they waited, Fran's stomach seemed to rattle with nervousness at the fear of what their punishment might be. Next to her, Relj quivered in the chill of being naked in the wide, open room. She was just as scared.

Finally the voices resurfaced.

Fran, it seems that the elders see fit that you received a small punishment. For your actions only fall under the realm of assisting and accompanying. You will be forced to undergoing training at the Eruyt Arms facility. After your training you may serve at least 2 years in service to the village and the Wood. The viera baby you discovered will also be put under your care for a decade.

Fran was slightly relieved yet fearful that she had been sentenced first. The second punishment also surprised her slightly.

Relj, we're afraid that your punishment is much more severe. It was you who conspired to go into the jungle, and it was you who revealed yourself to the Hume first. That is already a very reproachful and disastrous crime. But upon further study of your mind…

The two vieras gasped.

It seems that you have repeated your ritual without ceremonial standards, and not only that, but you repeated it with a Hume. So therefore, we have decided that you shall be executed—along with the Hume woman you discovered.

Fran stood up from her bow in aghast as she heard heavy shuffling come from out of nowhere. Relj screamed, but it soon became muffled as Fran heard heavy footsteps encircle in the wailing viera and drag her away.


ATmac05: So yeah, again sorry for the long wait. Hope it was worth it for you all. In the next chapter you'll find out about the baby Viera, and the Hume a little bit more. I'll try it have it up by the end of the week.