CHAPTER 2:5

Swain's answer came as a complete surprise.

"I don't know."

He had been so confident during his whole speech that the sudden confession came as a kidney shot. Darius opened his mouth but closed it again. What's there to add?

"You don't have the slightest clue?"

"Excuse me Vessaria, but what does this have to do with the case of Fiora Laurent?"

"They can talk," whispered Draven to Darius and the latter nodded. The two master summoners next to Vessaria had kept quiet all this time for unknown reasons, letting their younger representative stand for the talking.

High Councilor Kolminye shifted in her seat.

"It has everything to do with her," replied Vessaria, her voice sharp like a blade. "We can't prosecute someone sick; it's inhumane!"

Swain cleared his throat.

"Yes, and I will see to it that Noxus frees her from all charges," he agreed. "These are special circumstances and I will not condemn such a young woman for something she couldn't control."

Darius immediately felt a heavy weight lift from his shoulders. I knew that you were an honorable man, Jericho. That's why I chose to follow you. "I say the same; we can't set her guilty," said Darius and elbowed his brother to say the same.

"Eh, yeah, sure."

The summoner to Vessaria Kolminye's left turned towards the so far silent pair of Demacians, father and son.

"Do you have any objections?"

King Jarvan the Third rose to answer when Swain cut in.

"But there is of course a catch for this," he calmly said.

"How dare you?!"

Everyone in the room stiffened as the two leaders – one of them to be at least the closest thing to a leader there can be in a city like Noxus, and the other being the next king in line –watched each other in silence. The Demacian Crown Prince was gripping the wooden table until his knuckles whitened and his father seemed no less infuriated at the ice-cold man standing in the center of the room.

"What do you want, you Noxian snake?" spat the Prince and approached Swain. He wasn't armed but Darius had seen what the tall man could do even without his lance. "Just say it and stop slithering around with your tongue, poisoning our minds with your lies."

Jarvan the Fourth accusingly pointed at the man in front of him.

"Don't push your luck." The Demacian was taller than Swain and shot a disgusted look at his raven. "You may call yourself the Grand General but dirty Noxian politics means nothing in the world outside. I wouldn't sleep with both of my eyes closed, if I were you."

"Stop this madness! None of you have anything to say about this." Vessaria gritted her teeth. "Swain, what do you have to say?"

"As I was about to say before I was interrupted," he said and gestured towards Fiora. "I think this is a much favorable trade for Demacia."

"Trade?! Do you think this is some pitiful market in Nox—"

"Son, calm down. This is not suitable for Demacia's next king. Control yourself."

The two Demacians stared each other down and it was the younger Jarvan that forfeited first. He swore something before throwing a glance at Fiora's hunched body. His grey eyes were angry and disappointed, but not out of any tender feelings; he seemed genuinely sorry for her, even though Darius had seen how she liked to taunt the next king in line.

"I'm happy he listens to someone at least," mumbled Vessaria which made the King raise his eyebrows.

"Is there some trouble with the Adjudicators?" he asked as his son rolled with his eyes.

"No, certainly not," answered the High Councilor quickly as she readjusted her pen. "Now, what did you have to say, Jericho?"

Darius glanced to his side. Draven had been quiet now for a worrisome long time and Darius wondered if his brother was too angry to talk or maybe even sad... but of course not - he was sleeping.

What is wrong with this guy, Darius thought and sighed heavily. He better actually hear this out; I am not keen on repeating myself.

"It seems like they're developing a cure in Zaun," Darius heard Swain say as he shook Draven back to life again. He was rewarded with an irritated grimace and a finger. "Piltover decided not to help with the research so we can't send Miss Laurent there even if you Demacians would like to. She will get everything she needs there and will be treated for until she's healthy enough."

"Is that all?" wondered the King, his blue eyes wandering over Darius. "What about those two, are they content with this?"

Swain turned around and his eyes met with Darius.

"Yes," answered Darius and swallowed. He looked at his sleeping brother and chose to answer for him as well. "Draven agrees with me, I know him."

"I see," replied Jarvan the Third ironically. "Then I can't do anything but accept your generous offer—"

"Father, you can impossibly just let him take her!" exclaimed the Prince and swung his fist into the table. "He's Noxian and a liar. If you let her go, she'll die."

The King of Demacia shook his head and tried to look neutral, but Darius could see that he secretly agreed with his ill-tempered son. He stood quietly, his blue eyes locking with Swain's.

"No, this is my final decision," he said. "Either her or risk a war between the two city-states, which would be a catastrophe and a scandal, since we recently signed and vowed on the peace treaty." All the color drained from the younger of the Demacians' face. "I have no choice but to let her go."

The Prince bit back a harsh reply and sank down in his seat, muttering something about "true Demacian honor".

"Then it's decided," said Swain and grasped his cane with the both of his hands, supporting his weight. "Miss Laurent will be transported to Zaun first thing tomorrow and stay there until she's recovered."

High Councilor Vessaria Kolminye scribbled down the last of what Swain said and handed it over to her left. When all the members of the Council of Equity had signed the parchment, it was sealed with black wax and put into a small, metallic box.

"Since both parts agreed with each other, I guess there is no reason to go through the evidence and the testimonies?"

Swain nodded together with King Jarvan the Fourth.

"Then everything is settled and the Tribunal is closed."

A/N:

Maybe a tad dry and boring - short as well o.o - now but I assure you that I tried my best to make it sound as good as possible. From now on, things will get a lot more heated up (for all you romancy little fluff lovers) but there will still be a while until things get real. I don't want to ruin the story with too much cuddly-cuddly but neither do I want to make it cynical and stiff. I have gotten a few "can you do a lemon?" and I'm still thinking about it. If I feel that such a thing will suit into the story and not be awkward, I'll prob make it in a whole new input, which will be linked of course.

Things are going a bit slow now with both of my stories since I'm also active with writing two original stories of my own and a lot of gaming o-o But I promise that I will end this story and make it good to my best ability. ^^