She never thought waking would be so hard, though the ground felt awfully soft… and comfortable? When did rocks and cold ground become a down-mattress? DG slowly opened her eyes and was nearly blinded by the morning light. She was propped on her side with frilly pillows as support.
Though DG was looking into her room, she knew she wasn't completely alone. Moving slowly and carefully, DG noticed that someone was resting next to her. Repositioning herself so she sat and leaned against the headboard of the bed, DG studied the intruder to her personal space.
Reclined in a chair, hat pulled down over his face, slept Wyatt Cain. DG stared at the man, not sure what had been real or a dream. Hell, dream or not, she could still smell the gunpowder from the pistol. But, had she really killed all those Longcoats, all those men?
Images slowly crept and flashed around her, encasing DG in a hazed cocoon. Tears pooled and slid down her cheeks at the memories; the prison, Zero's rescue and team up against the Longcoats, and Cain.
DG carefully slipped out of her bed and to her balcony. Sitting on the cushioned bench, she watched the suns crest the horizon. The rays warmed her exposed skin, but gods did she feel out of place. DG wasn't sure of anything right now as tears slid down her cheeks. Though her emotions were in turmoil, her face was void of any emotions. She was just too lost of what to do or how to feel about her actions.
Cain stretched and groaned as his muscles ached and bones popped. He sat a few moments before removing his hat and rubbing his face. It was then that he noticed the lack of a body in the bed. Fear and adrenaline raced through him as he bolted from the chair.
Looking around for any signs, Cain spotted DG on the balcony. Letting his heart calm, he made his was to her side. He guessed she would have made some inclination to acknowledge his presence, but she never stirred. Walking around the bench, Cain noted how stoic she seamed to be… and her tears.
Wiping the tears away made little difference, "DG, come on kid." Cain prodded, "DG talk to me."
His pleas went unanswered as DG kept starring out into the landscape. Even when Cain stood in front of her, she seemed to stare right through him. Cain sighed and sat next to the distraught princess. Her tears were still falling and staining her face and there was no way to help.
Cain sighed again, running his hand through his hair and closing his eyes in frustration, trying to gain control. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts, thinking of solutions, that Cain failed to notice her. DG had turned to look Cain over, hesitantly reaching out.
She believed the Tin Man would have aimed his gun at her head if not for the fact she was the only person there. She placed her hand over his chest, feeling his heart. Each beat pulsed through her hand, filling her with untold assurance. After a few beats, her fingers trailed across his chest and up to his neck.
Cain watched her carefully, not sure what DG was doing. Truth be told that her fingers were setting off alarms, both good and bad with the good alarms worrying him the most. He felt her fingers trail from the base of his neck, up to his hair, over his right ear and across his cheek to his lips.
He finally took her hand in his own, pulling her away from his face, "DG, what is it? Why are you acting like this?"
"Wyatt." DG whispered, "I can't believe it."
"Can't believe what, kid?" Cain asked, using his other hand to caress her face, "The ambush and deaths, you were locked up by Longcoats and hunted him like animals, or the fact that I am alive?"
"All of the above?" DG huffed out, before turning away from him, "I'm a monster Cain. After what I did, what I made Zero do… where is he?"
"DG, you're still recovering and you need to take it easy for awhile. Zero stayed with you on his own accord when you asked him to. Right now, his is in a secured room, waiting for a trial." Cain replied, rubbing her back.
DG looked down at herself and noticed she was still in her 'hunter' uniform. The dark leather was nice, but seeing it in the light made her feel worse, "I think I need to wash and change." DG stated, standing from the bench.
"Alright, I'll be waiting in the chair." Cain nodded, "Yell if you need something." He added, standing up and walking towards the chair he has slept in.
"Sure Cain." DG nodded, walking to her bathroom, "I won't be too long."
Cain watched as the door was shut with a soft click. Relaxing into the chair again, he was about to drift off again, but there was a soft knock at the bedroom door before it creaked open.
"Hey there, Tin Man. How's the Princess?" Glitch asked, poking his head in. He and Raw fully entered when Cain nodded them in, "Where is she?"
"Showering and freshening up." Cain replied, motioning towards the bathroom door, "Where's Jeb and Azkadellia?"
"With Zero, questioning and getting information out of him." Glitch replied, "They asked us to come get you two, while Azkadellia got her parents."
"The O.Z. won't be so forgiving like they were with the lackeys. Zero was a high ranking, right hand man." Cain stated.
"True, but all of us had the most… interaction with him." Glitch countered.
"Know true Zero." Raw added, "Make better judgments."
"If you say so, where do we go?" Cain asked, getting up from the chair.
"The Grand Hall, passed the library. Just find the grand emerald and ivory doors." Glitch answered, "We'd best get back and ready or do you need company?"
"Nah, I'm sure DG and I can get there." Cain assured, "Plus, she still isn't well. Even with Raw's help, somethings even a healer can't heal."
Glitch and Raw nodded before turning to leave, though both friends had smiles on their faces, "Maybe not a healer, but something else?" Glitch said as he closed the door.
"Someone closer." Raw added.
Cain sighed as he walked to the bathroom door. He could hear the shower going and knocked loudly, "DG?" He asked, opening the door, "DG?"
"Yeah Cain?" Came the reply.
"You may want to hurry up. Zero's trial is going to start and they're waiting on us. Wouldn't go over formal, just something comfortable." Cain said, "Need anything?"
"For you to close your eyes when I come out? Forgot to grab some clothes."
"Only you…" Cain sighed, "I'll be in the chair, hat over my face…"
Cain swore he heard giggling echoing from the bathroom. Rolling his eyes, he slumped into the chair, shoving his hat over his face. Cain closed his eyes and rested until DG came to get him. She lightly shook his arm until he removed his hat.
"Ready?" DG asked once he looked at her, "Where are we going?"
Cain gave DG a once over, seeing her face still pale with fever. She was in a simple dress, navy blue with green embroidery. Standing, he offered his arm to her to which she took before they left her room.
"In the Grand Hall where Azkadellia is holding Zero's trial. I guess it the idea is for all of us to judge him. You in part with him for your days together." Cain said, finally answering her question.
"Am I to be questioned?" DG asked, "I don't know if I could…" She sighed, freeing herself of Cain and slumping against the wall.
Cain leaned against the wall beside her, willing to wait. He knew the others were waiting, but also knew they weren't going to rush DG and risk her taking off again. Hearing a faint sob, Cain turned to see DG crying again.
"Hey, hey, what's with the tears, kiddo?" Cain asked, pushing off the wall to stand in front of her, "What's wrong?"
"I have no right to judge Zero. After what I did, I am no better than the Longcoats that attacked us." DG admitted, "I killed those men in cold blood, Cain!"
"No you didn't DG." Cain said, cupping her cheek, "Why did the Longcoats capture, torture, and kill others?"
"The fact they had the power from fear of being killed by her." DG replied, "Because of the witch." She added, letting her face drop.
"Exactly, so tell me what you did." Cain nodded, forcing her to look him in the eye, "Why did you kill the Longcoats."
"Same reason, fear." DG sighed, letting more tears fall, "We're the same."
"They killed in fear of getting killed. So I ask again, why did you kill them?"
DG stared at Cain in complete confusion, but thought about his question. After a few moments, her confusion turned to realization, "I killed them for fear of losing all of you. Fear that more would come and all this would have been lost."
"Are you the same then?" Cain asked, a smirk creeping on his face.
"No, I guess not." DG smiled at him, "But it still feels weird. Like that DG wasn't me and just an alter ego to keep myself safe."
"I'll say, especially when you aimed that gun at me… three times." Cain huffed, "And Glitch says I'm the 'shoot-first' person."
"You are… I didn't shoot you did I?" DG poked Cain in the chest.
"No, but doesn't mean you wouldn't." Cain retorted, heading down the hall.
"But I didn't, leave it at that." DG laughed, walking up next to him and looping her arm with his, "Though I think I do need to… let it out. Ya know, talk about what happened? Maybe that would help."
"When would you want to? After Zero's trial?" Cain wondered.
"Probably be the best. My room after the trial, over food depending what time of day." DG nodded, resting her head on his shoulder.
"It's a date." Cain agreed, leading DG down the stairs and around the palace until they met up with Glitch.
"About time, but the Queen and Consort just arrived as well." Glitch stated, leading the few meters to the door, "You doing okay, DG?"
"Yes, thank you Glitch. If I take it easy, I should be." DG smiled at her friend.
Glitch smiled back, glad to see DG back. From the story Jeb could recall, DG hadn't been the most welcoming when they arrived and from what she was wearing… Well, he could only image what had gone on.
Opening the doors, the Grand Hall was adorned in the Crest of Gale, the symbol that once was 'burned' to DG's hand. With streams of green, blues, and pinks to accent the walls. A long table, upon a platform was set up with an enclosed stand down in front. DG could only think of comparing the stand with what the Other Side would hold criminals.
True to his world, her mother and father were there, seated side by side. Raw sat next to the Queen with two seats next to him, obviously for herself and Cain as Azkadellia and Glitch sitting next to Ahamo.
Cain and DG took their seats as Jeb entered with Zero. The ex-Longcoat was cuffed and escorted by two more guards to the 'box'. Once everyone was secure, the Queen stood to address them.
"Since we are now all present, let the trial begin."
