Nabooru followed the three judges into the small room and shut the door behind her.
"You stupid bitch!" General Carson shouted when the door was closed.
Nabooru crossed her arms and frowned at the sad excuse of a military officer.
Carson's round face was turning red as he failed to control his rage. "We specifically said you couldn't mention the fucking genocide!" His hands were balled into fists at his sides. Nabooru didn't budge.
"It became relevant to my testimony," the Gerudo offered with a shrug.
General Carson couldn't handle her insolence anymore. He stomped forward raising his right hand to punish the woman. Islip snatched his wrist mid flight.
"That'll be enough, General," the Archbishop warned while still holding the man's wrist. Carson clenched his jaw and glared hard at the Archbishop. With a "hmph" he tried to pull his hand back but Islip kept it in his vice-like grip. Simon Islip's eyes bore into the General as if he were daring the man to step out of line one more time.
When it became abundantly clear who was in charge, Archbishop Islip released General Carson's hand and stepped to the side. The General grumbled very quietly to himself and stepped back becoming very interested in a spot on the wall.
Vice Regent Leopold cleared his throat. "You've put our King in a tight spot," he explained to the Gerudo. "Regardless of the relevancy of your testimony, it's now entirely possible His Majesty will throw the trial out and absolve Ganondorf."
"You asked me to convince the court that he's a bastard," Nabooru said losing her collected demeanor. "What better way than to show how much blood has already stained his hands?"
"And what if Quentin comes back and says Ganondorf is suffering from the guilt of obliterating his own people at the request of the King?" Leopold asked.
Nabooru's heart sank. Even though it wasn't true Nabooru realized people could interpret it that way.
Leopold kept pressing, emphasizing the mistake Nabooru had just made. "The people would cry that the King is the real monster, asking a Gerudo man to decimate the Gerudo race. And while Ganondorf was just a volunteer, no less."
"Surely we could prove that he was the one who suggested the genocide to the King, couldn't we?" Nabooru asked. Her voice was starting to dip into an octave of desperation.
Leopold shook his head. "I will deny it openly before I risk undermining the King," he answered.
Nabooru put her hands on her head. "Goddesses," she said. "What have I done?"
General Carson muttered something unintelligible but it was Islip who spoke up.
"I believe your testimony is still salvageable," the Archbishop said confidently. Everyone turned to him anxiously. "I doubt Quentin will pursue the genocide so long as we don't push it any further. He stands in front of the King and court often. He isn't THAT hellbent on making enemies, which is exactly what embarrassing the King would get him." The Vice Regent nodded contemplatively while General Carson went back to inspecting his spot on the wall.
"Furthermore," Islip continued. "Lord Massys has an affinity for women who have suffered at the hands of men."
"Could have fooled me," Nabooru replied with a sneer.
Islip shook his head. "Despite his sacrilege the Goddesses are fighting for the good in his soul." This was a fact to the man, Nabooru realized. Not an opinionated belief. "His conscience will hinder him from continuing to help a man like Ganondorf."
Nabooru let out a sigh. "I hope you're right."
Spade stared at his employer in disbelief.
"I don't give a damn about the law!" the boy remembered Quentin saying early last year while they were working on a different case. "Everyone, prince and pauper, man and woman, is owed their dignity, freedom, and life."
Quentin Massys had been sitting in his office, surrounded by mountains and piles of books, scrolls, and records Spade had been dragging in all day. "We aren't going to let Lord Matrick get away with rape. He's not slithering out of this one because the law favors men of his position."
That case had been long and grueling, even dangerous at one point. While the case was still in pretrial some of Lord Matrick's squires had been ordered to rough Spade and Quentin up for causing the noble so much trouble. Luckily Spade was a scrapper and Quentin still had the moves from his time as a soldier. The kids had crawled home with black eyes and bruises.
Spade had never been more proud to be Quentin's apprentice. Not because the crippled veteran could still beat up a bunch of adolescents, but because he stood up for himself and his beliefs even when the kingdom was descending on him.
Just like he'd said, Quentin proved he didn't give a damn about the law. He cared about justice. He cared about giving every man in every position a shot at equality. Hadrian's law was just the weapon Quentin wielded to achieve his goal. Spade couldn't think of anything more honorable or respectable than that.
But this, what his employer was about to unleash on the court, was neither honorable nor respectable. Spade struggled with himself whether he should mention his boss's hypocrisy aloud or not. Before he could overcome his trepidation the door at the far end of the court opened and the judges and Gerudo woman returned to the courtroom. Quentin clapped his hands and rubbed his palms together.
"Here we go, Spade," he whispered in excitement. The boy remained quiet.
"All rise!" one of the guards commanded. Everyone duteously rose to their feet, waited for the judges to sit down, then returned to their seats.
Right after he sat down General Carson looked up over his shoulder to see if the King had returned. Wisely, in Quentin's humble opinion, he had not. The Princess and her entourage were still there though. Quentin wanted the Princess there, he wanted her to watch him win.
The Vice Regent clambered back to his feet. "We will now resume Ganondorf's trial." He paused and gestured towards Nabooru. "Does the witness have anything further to add to her testimony?"
Nabooru, now standing behind the podium, shook her head. "I do not." She turned to Quentin and revealed her brilliant white teeth. They appeared even brighter than they should when contrasted to her dark bronze skin and painted lips. "I am ready for the 'Champion of the Law'."
I doubt that, Quentin said to himself. He pulled himself up with his cane then bowed slightly. "I'm not really one for titles, Lady Nabooru, but thank you." Quentin clicked and clacked towards the center of the room while Leopold returned to his seat. The three judges watched Quentin with anticipation.
"You've been brave enough to share your very personal ordeal with us," Quentin said in a calm voice. "So I'll start off simple and easy."
"My favorite kind of men," Nabooru said with a wink.
Quentin offered her a smirk while the sheeple bleated to one another.
Joke while you can, he thought, you'll be the second woman to leave here in tears.
"How old are you, Lady Nabooru?"
A well plucked eyebrow was raised. "Twenty-five," she answered. "And the year I met Ganondorf was 1297, in case that's your next question."
Quentin allowed himself a fake chuckle. He was beginning to sense that he was right in his theory. The judges had scolded her for mentioning the end of the Gerudo War, and now everyone was going to pretend nothing had been said. That was fine. It suited Quentin well enough.
"It seems that my client has caused you, more so than any of the other witnesses, a great deal of stress."
Nabooru shrugged. "I was unlucky enough to have the longest exposure to him."
A nod from the Quentin while he lined up his thoughts. "The word 'unlucky' doesn't do you justice. But it IS lucky that Ganondorf forgot how to use that 'control' spell after he left the Gerudo."
Confused, Nabooru furrowed her brow. "What?"
"Well," Quentin started, "you see I've listened to two testimonies now - three if you include the Princess's - and not once does Ganondorf ever try to manipulate or control someone like a puppet as you described." Nabooru's eyes were beginning to narrow in suspicion. Quentin plowed on ahead while he remained planted in the center of the room leaning on his cane.
"If he still remembered how to use that spell I can't imagine he would have wasted so much time or resources allegedly trying to steal artifacts from each of the races of the kingdom. We know for a fact he still had magic at his disposal when he met with the Gorons. And your Kokiri friend claims he was spell-weaving when he met with her talking tree."
Nabooru's eyes widened in realization.
It gets better you lying harlot. Quentin continued quickly before she could interrupt him. "And it seems that he left the Zoras empty handed too without having manipulated anyone." He turned to the three judges. "Can the court provide a second witness who claims to have been 'possessed' by Ganondorf's magic?"
General Carson looked like his blood was boiling and the Archbishop looked strangely confused. Only Vice Regent Leopold could answer.
"The court cannot," he said plainly.
Quentin turned back to his prey. There was no more suspicion or surprise on the Gerudo woman's face. Only rage. Quentin's mask of empathy had been pulled off. He was now, very clearly, her enemy.
"You're accusing me of lying," Nabooru stated.
"I am not," Quentin said while raising his hands up defensively. "I was merely commenting on my client's apparent forgetfulness. But on the subject of the forgotten I cannot help but feel that you are forgetting something in your testimony."
The corner of Nabooru's lip lifted in a snarl.
"What, pray tell, am I forgetting?"
"It's just that, in your testimony you made it seem as though Ganondorf cared only for three people, his two mothers and you." Quentin paused so that everyone, even the most slow witted noble, wouldn't be left behind. "And you lived with him for eight years, putting you at sixteen years of age before you two separated. I was sixteen once, Lady Nabooru. I was sixteen, uncrippled, and in love. Is it possible you weren't entirely clear about your relationship with Ganondorf?"
Nabooru snorted. "I see where you are going. Yes," she answered. "Ganondorf and I were engaged before I left him."
Quentin reared his head in feigned surprise. "Engaged to be married?"
Whispers rifled through the crowd. Nabooru's cheeks turned red out of either anger or embarrassment. Neither really mattered to Quentin.
"Was this engagement also a product of coercion?" he asked.
Nabooru said nothing, only stared at Quentin filling her eyes with as much venom as she could.
"Lady Nabooru," Quentin said in a deep serious voice. "Was your engagement forced?"
Nabooru stayed quiet for a moment longer before finally answering. "No," she said quietly.
"Judges!" Quentin cried triumphantly as he pivoted on his good leg. "According to King Hadrian's law, each race of Hyrule will be allowed to observe their own customs and laws so long as they do not obstruct the rights of Hylian citizens." He had to force himself to taper his excitement and speak slow enough to be understood. "Nine years ago both Ganondorf and Nabooru were Gerudo citizens. According to Gerudo law and custom a man CANNOT rape his fiance or wife because he is legally entitled to the intimacy of her body. Rape between a man and woman, according to Gerudo law, can only occur before the engagement or after a legal divorce process."
The Archbishop looked like he was in shock. His shark eyes practically popping out of his head. Quentin pressed harder.
"Regardless of whether this woman's story about magic manipulation is true, which I doubt, Ganondorf committed no crime against his fiance. Furthermore!" he said now focusing on Vice Regent Leopold, the head of the judges. "to continue with the biased perception that Ganondorf's actions - alleged or otherwise - were barbaric is to officially decry that Gerudo law and custom is barbaric. Ganondorf cannot be judged for this woman's accusations unless the kingdom intends to hold an entire race accountable."
Quentin took a deep breath and waited for the Vice Regent's reaction. The courtroom was silent. The lords and ladies that bore witness were still catching up to what Quentin had said. General Carson was looking to the head judge to offer an answer that no doubt eluded him. Nabooru's gaze was bouncing desperately between the Archbishop and the Vice Regent. Spade was looking at the back of Quentin's head with disgust. Islip still looked surprised and a little bit betrayed.
The Vice Regent met Quentin's eyes, then glanced at Nabooru, Islip, and lastly up at the Princess before turning back to Quentin.
"Lord Massys is correct," he finally said.
"WHAT!?" Nabooru screeched.
"This court may only adhere to Hylian Law," Leopold continued without looking at Nabooru. "And from the time that Ganondorf became a Hylian citizen he was absolved of any Gerudo charges that were not officially brought against him, let alone the observance of actions legal and customary to the Gerudo people."
"WHAT!?" Nabooru screeched again.
"The witness may expand on her testimony if she desires bearing in mind that Hadrian's Law can only govern those Gerudo laws which directly mirror Hylian Law."
Quentin turned to Nabooru expecting her reaction.
"No!" she shouted. "No! Fuck you, Leopold! And fuck you, Simon!" she started to move from behind the podium but the guards were already there. A guard on each side of her grabbed an arm and started pulling her back.
"Guards!" a voice commanded. Everyone tilted their heads back to see the Princess, standing and pointing at Nabooru and the two men. "Unhand her!"
"Yes, Your Highness," they both replied immediately. They took their hands off of her but took the precaution to position themselves between her and the judges' table. Nabooru looked up at the Princess for a couple seconds, took a deep breath, then took a step backwards.
Quentin wished the guards had been thoughtful enough to stand between him and the Gerudo viper. Nabooru spat on Quentin, eliciting a gasp from the audience, then turned and stormed out of the courtroom.
Slowly, dramatically, Quentin grabbed the corner of his blouse and lifted it up to wipe away the glob of projected spittle.
Three witnesses, he thought to himself triumphantly. I've flawlessly defeated three of their witnesses.
Confident after his third victory Quentin addressed the judges once more.
"I do hope your next witness has a little more regard for my personal space." There was no keeping the wry grin off his face.
Leopold cleared his throat. "The judges will be taking a short recess."
"Another one?" Quentin asked.
The Vice Regent raised his hand and pointed a finger at Quentin. "Mind yourself," he warned quietly but sternly.
Quentin immediately took a step back then bowed. "Of course, forgive me."
With a call to rise from the guards everyone stood up and the three judges got up to leave. The Archbishop gave Quentin one last look of betrayal before turning away. The judges exited the door on the left, where the last of the witnesses were being kept.
Quentin strutted - as well as a cripple can strut - back to his seat. He was well aware of all the eyes on him and the number of times his name was being whispered.
"We did it, lad," he said putting his hand on the boy's shoulder. Spade surprised Quentin by shrugging away.
"YOU did it," the boy corrected.
"Excuse me?"
Spade spun on his master. "She was raped!" he hissed. "And you made her look like a fool."
"She was lying," Quentin countered, too surprised by his assistant to be angry.
Spade's pimple spotted face scowled. "She wasn't lying," he replied lowering his voice. "Ganondorf told me that he found out it was his mothers controlling her."
Quentin brought his hand to his chin while he listened to his irritated assistant.
"He found out his mothers were trying to sabotage his relationship," Spade continued. "Ganondorf didn't know he raped her until years later and even knowing that he raped her doesn't understand why she was so upset."
"I know," Quentin replied when Spade was done. "He wrote as much in his note. She knows it was Ganondorf's mothers too. But whether he knew it or not doesn't matter since he didn't break the law."
"I don't give a damn about the law," Spade said. With that he crossed his arms and turned away from Quentin. He scooted in his seat until he was as far away from his employer as he could be.
Quentin thought about reaching out and grabbing hold of the boy's ears but he didn't. He'll understand when he's older, Quentin thought.
His victory deflated by Spade's attitude Quentin scanned the room until his eyes brought him up to the balcony. The princess and Impa were gone now too, having slipped out the same time Nabooru did.
So much for a royal attendance, Quentin thought half hoping the Princess was still listening to his thoughts. Great King of Evil -three, delusional princess and bloodthirsty Sheik - zero.
"What the hell was that?" General Carson asked the Vice Regent after the door closed behind them. "You practically handed him the trial!"
"He was right," the Vice Regent replied, not at all perturbed by the General's anger. "Nabooru should have told us they were engaged. And she shouldn't have mentioned the genocide. She cornered herself and Massys capitalized on her mistake."
The irate general turned from the Vice Regent to point an accusing finger at the Archbishop.
"So much for the good in his soul!"
Islip glared at General Carson but had no retort prepared.
General Carson groaned then raised his hands, bringing them back down to slap his sides. "So that's it, we've lost," he said. "Unless Impa changes her mind there's no point in bringing any more witnesses."
"Excuse me," a voice said from behind the three men.
All three turned and found their last witness sitting patiently on his stool.
"I would still like to speak," the boy said.
"Forget about it, kid," General Carson said. "That Quentin bastard will chew you up."
The boy pushed off the stool and adjusted his pointed green hat.
"All the same, sir, I'd like to speak to him."
General Carson looked back at the Vice Regent, then they both looked at the Archbishop. Islip gave both of them a small nod.
"Ah, what the hell, why not?" General Carson asked aloud.
The boy nodded his head in appreciation.
"I doubt I can win back the trial," the boy said, "but I want to at least warn him."
"Warn him?"
The boy looked up at the general. A shiver went down the man's spine as he saw the eyes of, not a child, but a warrior.
"He and I have met before."
Author's Notes: A side of Quentin Massys you might not have been expecting. Don't hesitate to let me know what you think. Also I love PM's where people try and guess what's going to happen. You're more than welcome to join in on that.
Thanks for reading!