Disclaimer: I DO NOT own the recognizable and/or canon characters herein. Nor do I own the recognizable/canon places, events, or timelines. Anything outside of that scope is my own creation. I endeavor to be as close to canon as possible on recognizable place, event, and character descriptions- so please feel free to let me know I am wrong if I am wrong. Thank you.
The spectacle of Keladry being led from headquarters sometime later in irons was something that spread through the fort faster than wildfire. The Protector of the Small had been arrested. Her shield no longer on her tunic- stripped from her and it left an obvious mark where it had once lay.
How? Why?
"Kel?" Neal's voice was at first disbelieving as it rose over the crowd that began to gather and whisper. It took a moment for him to take in the scene and his panic rose sharply. "Kel!"
The Girl showed no emotion as they lead her out into the open. She didn't even seem to register that Neal, Owen, and even Prince Roald called out to her; only Dom managed to catch her eyes for a brief moment- and he took little solace in the accepting calm that he saw in what had once been dream filled eager eyes.
Following Kel and her guards out of the building was Raoul, Alanna, and finally the King. Both Raoul and Alanna looked a mixture of emotions: ranging from desperation to anger and a lot of sadness. The King, however, looked merely resigned and weighed down. Almost instantly once the Prince noticed his father did he go to him, his distress obvious and loud.
"Father! What is this? What are you doing? Lady Keladry has never done anything to deserve such public humiliation- she has served you well! Why?" Roald was then quickly whisked away by Alanna who forcibly drug him and his father back into headquarters to talk away from the crowd of people. His questions continued to be heard until the door closed with a resounding snap!
The guards leading Kel began to move again after a noise from Raoul. They led her between the buildings towards the center of the encampment. The watch on the walls could be seen not so secretively sneaking glances at the ruckus below, only to be reminded that their job was to know what was going on outside the fort, not in.
Kel was stopped at the base of the flagpole that stood in the middle of the fort, like it did at any military post along the border. On it flapped the flags of Tortall and Goldenlake, proud in the brisk wind of the north. She stood tall and proud and graceful even in this moment of utter public humiliation. Whatever shame this was meant to make her feel would never come for she had never really felt any shame about breaking her oaths and going to Scanra and saving her people. The only shame she had felt was that others had broken their oaths for her- which she had remedied before allowing herself to be arrested.
Raoul, who had followed at a short distance in silence, walked past his old squire and stepped on a stool-like box that was lying near the base of the flag pole. He didn't really need the extra height to be seen but he had his orders, and all were to know of this. Jonathan had been very persistent of that fact Gods only knew why. All eyes slowly moved from Kel in chains to the Knight Commander on his box- he waited patiently for the whispers to stop and the crowds to quiet before he began to speak.
"Everyone here knows this woman- Keladry formerly of Mindelan. This woman has accepted her arrest and renounced shield, titles, and noble privilege willingly." Raoul's voice carried, though it was not as loud as his battlefield voice. Steeling himself, he continued. "She will henceforth be taken to Corus for investigation and a trial on the following counts:" Raoul held up fingers now as he spoke. "One; breaking rank and disobeying a direct order from her commanding officer. Two; deserting what was left to her of the command in the face of the enemy. And finally three; breaking oath to King and realm- treason."
The crowd became riled as it grumbled and the guards who watched Kel visibly strengthened themselves as best they could. Neither agreed with the orders they had been given by their King, but he was their King. They owed him loyalty, as they had sworn it once long ago. Their visibly discomfort did not make Kel feel any better about the situation, but she stayed silent. Finally a single voice broke through the crowd as a body walked forward.
"Under whose authority is she arrested?" Neal asked although he already knew the answer. He just wanted to hear it said.
"Under King Jonathan of Conte is Keladry arrested. This comes as a result of her treasonous decision to break oath and defy orders this summer- and so she will now face the consequences of both council and law. She is to be held here until after the weddings and festivities and then will be transported south to await the investigation and trials." Raoul's reply was bland, his eyes rather dead looking for all they were nearly black.
"How is this woman to be arrested for an incident in which her commanding officer has already pardoned her and that was never officially sanctioned by the King who now orders this? And why does this woman bear the responsibility alone when other knights, soldiers, and a squire broke their own oaths and commands to follow her?" Lord Wyldon, who had nearly fought his way to the opening where Kel and Raoul stood, asked firmly. Owen stood at his elbow, tears showing in his eyes that refused to fall.
"The King, under council, has decided that it was best for war and realm to publicly publish the incident- copies of the official reports from Keladry, Nealan of Queenscove, Merric of Hollyrose, and the King's Own sergeant Domitan of Masbolle." Raoul swallowed heavily- this particular order from his King was going to make him give back his breakfast in front of his own command. A thought he did not relish. "Copies sent to the north should arrive here tomorrow or the morn after and will be posted throughout the fort- and all forts or encampments along the border. Along with these reports will also be posted the news of Keladry's arrest, as it was determined before today that she was to be arrested."
"You have yet to answer my second question, Goldenlake. What happens to those who helped her? Why is she bearing this alone?" Wyldon's eyes narrowed as he studied the chit who was holding her head high and matching him look for look. She showed no fear, not that she ever did. Gods he wished she'd been born a boy. Before Raoul could respond to his question, however, Kel interrupted and pitched her voice to be heard far and wide.
"As I am the one who chose, willingly and knowingly, to break my oaths to King and realm I have requested and been granted pardons for my companions who followed me first in the hopes of returning me home and stayed with the drive to bring our refugees home as well. I alone intended to go to Scanra, I alone planned the treason, and so I alone will accept and bear the consequences of my actions." Kel had to stop to take a breath but did not stop for long as she knew Neal was probably dying to interrupt her now. "The King has sworn and oath in front of witnesses to this effect. All who followed me will know no consequence or retaliation of the crown for my actions." The silence in the crowd was able to be felt as Kel paused again, this time longer. She studied faces in the crowd she could recognize. Neal looked horrifyingly sad, Wyldon seemed almost cold and calculating, and Dom looked as though he wished to rush forward and hold her. Kel turned to her old knight master and managed a partial bow- the chains clanking as she moved. "If it please my lord, I believe it is time for me to be escorted to my cell so that the festivities of today can take place in a few calls of the watch. I would be in my lord's debt if he would allow me to inconvenience the day no longer than necessary."
Raoul started as he was jolted from his thoughts for a moment. How he wished to not need to do this, how he wished Jonathan had explained why this had to happen at all. For once in his life Raoul of Goldenlake found himself wishing he had never become Knight Commander of the Kings Own- wished he had died of the Sweating Sickness as a lad. This was not something he had ever wanted to do, and here he was doing it.
"Take her to the secure cell." Raoul waved his hand in a dismissal to the guards. "Minimal visitors, all searched, and no one alone."
"Yes my lord." The senior guard said and bowed as he quickly began to move Kel through the crowd that parted ways for the girl in chains. All eyes stared as she walked through- many wondered how someone facing Traitor's Hill could look so calm and collected. None could figure it, not even Neal.
A/N: I know that this seems a little weird, especially in the universe that the Protector of the Small books exist in. I am not saying that it ISN'T weird- merely remind my readers that this is a fanfiction and some characters may be different from my point of view than those of the original author of the series. I hope that you stick around and see where this leads before making a judgement- but I respect everyone's rights to opinions and dislikes and will not be mad at anyone for voicing them - either via reviews or private messages. Thank you.