A/N: So its finally time to finish the trial! I wanted to thank all of you guys for supporting this story and for my 100th Review! Thanks so much, you guys make me want to keep writing! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Damien and Naomi. It all belongs to the fabulatious (Yes I just made up a word because none exists that describe her well enough) Richelle Mead.

Chapter 9:

When those words left my lips I realized something. Hiding hadn't helped me let go. Avoiding my past wasn't going to let me come to terms with what happened. Just because I pretended to be strong, doesn't mean I was. I needed to face my past.

Tasha started writhing in my arms but I knew she didn't stand a chance. I just held her there until the court came to order and she got tired of screaming. Then she was escorted out by a few more guardians for unruly conduct. Then, the session proceeded. Abe explained that no laws had been broken and even quoted the Moroi Court of Law. The opposing lawyer explained more about the unwritten law and the way the queen had been mistreated. Throughout the whole thing I was sitting, anxiously awaiting the results.

Finally, the hearing came to an end. Now it was time for the judge to decide whether or not I would spend the next two months in jail, or roam free before my trial. The tension seemed to build up in the room and I could almost hear everyone stop breathing.

"Rosemarie Hathaway, you have been charged with abandonment of your duties as a guardian. After careful consideration, his honor, Justice Alexandroff, has decided that you will spend the next two months...free."

The world erupted around me. Damien ran up and kissed me and Naomi started cheering. Some of the press stood up to clap while others came as close as they possibly could and started screaming questions. I was ecstatic. I could spend the next two months in peace, at home.

Lissa looked absolutely enraged. She stalked over to the judge and started screaming at him.

"I am your queen Mr. Alexandroff and I will see to it that you are stripped of your job. This woman left me alone without protection, abandoning her responsibilities. I cannot believe that you would allow her to leave this court. What if she tries to run away again? Then justice will never be served!"

Justice Alexandroff looked calm as she yelled and raised his arm. The courtroom quieted down. What was going on?

"Although Ms. Hathaway will not be in jail, there are a few limitations on her freedom." Wait what? This was completely unfair. Everyone on the defense's side stopped celebrating. "Ms. Hathaway will be under constant supervision by a guardian who will be assigned to her. She will also be forced to remain on the campus at St. Vladimirs and will be assigned a residence in the Court Royale. If she leaves campus or in any way physically attacks her guardian, she will be sent to Tasarov immediately. "

I could not believe this was happening. All of my dreams of living a somewhat normal life for at least a little while were shattered. I assumed the Court Royale was the flashy name for this new area of the campus. I guess it was where the queen stayed when she was around. Now I would have to stay here with all these royal snobs for 2 months? This was worse than prison!

I was ready to start screaming at the judge. Some of that old Rose impulsiveness seemed to shoot back up to the surface. But, when I looked into Damien's eyes I saw that I needed to let it go. His beautiful eyes seemed to say, " Not now, ma princesse". Now that I was an adult, I had to face the decisions of the court and fight for myself later, at the trial. Doing anything now would just make matters worse. I was sure of it. He nodded at me when I relaxed and then walked toward Abe, shooting into a legal discussion I was too far away to understand.

I allowed myself to be lead away back to the holding cell, to wait until my 'residence' was assigned. Naomi followed, knowing I would need some support. We talked for hours. I told her about my life at the academy, Dimitri, and some of the adventures we'd had together. I told her about Mason dying and how I'd met Adrian. She comforted me and came with me when a few guardians said that my new home was ready.

We walked to the other end of the what I now knew to be the Court Royale. I was taken to a secluded area in the woods and gasped at what I saw. The small wooden home with a cozy fireplace was gorgeous. It was a little cabin with enough room for two people. Damien stood in front, obviously proud of himself. I was sure that he had made sure we would get this place. I ran over to him, finally allowed to go away from the guardians and inspected the outside. The cabin had two windows, and was surrounded by forest. The only nearby building was an apartment building.

"I'm staying there." Naomi motioned to it.

"Your staying?"

"Of course! Your my best friend. Plus, how could I let Damien stay here and spend all this time with you and I would just be alone at home? I don't think so. I'm definitely staying."

"Thank you! Wait, Damien's staying too?"

"Yes ma princesse. Of course I am. I wouldn't leave you here alone. With all of these Moroi. Who knows? Maybe you'll find one you like better than me and then that would be it."

"Impossible." I breathed into his neck. I leaned in to kiss him again when I heard a cough from behind.

"Get a room, little dhampir."

"Your just jealous Adrian."

"Maybe so, you see, I just can't stand the sight of my little dhampir with someone else." Adrian joked. Although, I heard a little truth in his voice. Did he really still like me?

"You see what I mean?" Damien teased me. Snapping me back to reality. "They're all over you."

"It's alright. Your the only one for me." I successfully kissed him on the lips. I felt like we had only kissed for a second when he pulled away.

"I have a surprise for you." Damien took my arm and led me inside the cabin. Inside, his things had been laid out neatly on the bed.

"Your staying with me?"

"Yes!" I was so excited. Maybe this wasn't going to be as bad as I thought it would be. Damien and I would be together, alone, for a whole two months. What could be better?

Then, I saw someone come through the door. Adrian stood there, a pained expression on his face.

"I have your assigned guardian here little dhampir." What was wrong? It wasn't like it was-oh no. The guardian stepped into view and I cringed internally.

"Ms. Hathaway.", Dimitri Belikov stated as if this wasn't awkward for him at all. This was going to be a very long 2 months.

Dimitri is her guardian? How is Damien going to react? How about Rose? AHHH!