A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks so much to Velvet, Carlypso, Re-Animated, xxxxInu girlxx93839, NatzSti, Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967, Psyche101, Evy201, shippolove844, and earth17 for reviewing! I hope everyone likes this chapter :)
Chapter XXXIV
Elise knocked on the door to Caspian's office, but didn't wait for him to answer before stepping inside.
He glanced up briefly from the papers he was reading at his desk and said, "That went horribly."
"Horribly is a strong word…" she replied tentatively, "Not everyone was against you – why, just a moment ago a man defended you. I think the court is pretty equally split, if not leaning in your favor."
"Perhaps, but those who are higher up in terms of power are not pleased. They're going to jump at this chance, so I need to be prepared."
"What do you mean?"
"Elise, I know you're not going to want to hear this," he started cautiously, "But if something happens – if I go on trial and am convicted – I've arranged – I've arranged for you to leave. You must leave, you understand? Without me here – well, I don't even want to think about what might happen…"
"We've already established that I am not leaving you under any circumstances," she said coolly.
"Yes, but if I am convicted I will be executed!" he yelled impatiently. Caspian was a kind and reasonable person, but he wasn't used to being defied. Elise's refusal to listen to him – especially when he was only concerned with her best interests – was unbearably frustrating.
"Then so too will I."
"No, you won't be. You won't. I'll never allow that to happen. Even if I'm dead, I will find a way to keep you safe. Everything will be much easier if you cooperate, of course, but even if you do not I have taken measures ensure that your future is secured."
"Let's just not even worry about this," she said in an attempt to change the subject. She couldn't stand such thoughts. She needed a distraction.
"Well, I have a lot work to do," he said, "But you're welcome to stay here, if you like."
She nodded slightly and made her way over to a tall wooden bookshelf. After selecting some sort of history book, she plopped herself in the large cushioned armchair in front of his desk.
About an hour passed, before there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Caspian called.
Slowly, the door creaked open and Amphitryon appeared.
"Hello, Your Majesty – oh, and Miss d'Orsay," he said awkwardly.
"What is it, Amphitryon?" Caspian asked.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Your Highness…"
All three of them knew that this was coming. It had just been a matter of time. Quite frankly, though, Caspian was a bit surprised that they had been so prompt about the whole thing – he'd expected it to take a couple of days at the very least.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Many of the nobles in the castle have signed a petition – I tried to talk them out of it, but they were very adamant…"
"A petition?"
"They're petitioning to put you on trial – they think you murdered Lord Artemis!"
"How ridiculous," he said dryly. He shot Elise a knowing look, but luckily the motion went over Amphitryon's head.
"I know, My Lord, I know. We will of course do everything in our power to defend you, and it's extremely unlikely that you actually be convicted. I'm sure that if you just cooperate, this thing will sort itself out naturally…"
"Who is the primary party pressing the charges?"
"Lady Seraphina is said to have initiated the action, but Lord Augustus is the one who is formally pressing charges."
Elise turned to Caspian and whispered, "Who is Lord Augustus?"
"Octavian's father. Remember him?"
"What are we going to do?" Elise asked the two men, internally shuddering at the memory of Octavian and his equally repulsive counterpart, Severo.
"This is hardly unexpected," Caspian commented, ignoring her question.
"What are we going to do," she repeated.
"I don't know. Just go along with it, I suppose. There's really nothing else we can do aside from cooperating and hoping for the best. We just need to act like we have nothing to hide – which is true."
"I agree with His Majesty. There really isn't sufficient evidence – the only reason this accusation is actually coming to fruition is because Lord Augustus is the one leading it."
"When is the date for the trial?" Caspian asked.
"They want to do it as soon as possible – they are trying to make it tomorrow!"
"This is indeed unfortunate. Alas, I am not guilty and I am confident that our legal system will work in my favor. Thank you for letting me know, Amphitryon. You may leave now."
"Er – there's something else, Your Majesty," he said uncomfortably.
"Yes?"
"Erm – well, you see – I realize that he was technically considered an enemy of the state, but I know that you were very close with him… I don't know the best way to tell you this."
"Out with it!" Caspian commanded, worry displayed clearly on his features.
"It's Doctor Cornelius…"
"What about him?"
Oh God, there was no way that this could be good news. No, no, no – he couldn't handle another tragedy. Not now, of all times. His stomach started to churn and he began to feel light-headed. There was no way this could be happening. He didn't even need to hear Amphitryon say the words to know what had happened; the expression on the other man's face revealed all he needed to know.
"He – he was attacked, Sir."
"Attacked?"
"Yes, the guards recently caught a very dangerous criminal and they were out of cells – they had to put him in with Cornelius."
"Well, is he all right?" he asked numbly. He knew he wasn't all right. The question was a formality. He didn't want Amphitryon to evade the issue any longer.
"Well, no, Sir. He's dead."
The room began to spin. Caspian's whole world came crashing down. Cornelius. The man had practically raised him. He was the closest thing to a parent he had ever had; he taught him everything he knew. Without that man, he would have been dead years ago.
But he had now been attacked. Killed. The whole thing reeked of corruption. There was no doubt that the criminal hadn't been put in that cell by accident. Someone had deliberately placed him there, and most likely paid him to kill Cornelius.
But why? For no other reason than to hurt Caspian. To weaken him further. There could be no other explanation.
"And the criminal – the criminal has been executed," he asked gruffly, finally finding his voice.
"No, Sir – I really hate to tell you this, but he escaped through the window of the cell somehow. But I assure you that the soldiers are scouring the city and I will personally inform you when they find him."
"And his wife?"
"She was set to leave the castle today, but she has been allowed to stay for his funeral."
"Thank you, Amphitryon," he managed stoically, "You may leave."
The older man gave the king a pained expression, but left wordlessly.
As soon as he was gone, Elise rushed over to Caspian, who let his stony façade fall.
"Murdered. Murdered. Someone paid to have him murdered," he choked, burying his face in Elise's dress.
"I know," she said miserably, tears gathering in her eyes. She had hardly known Cornelius, but the sight of Caspian so distraught was enough to make her share in his pain.
She stroked his hair in an attempt to comfort him, but she knew her efforts were useless. There was nothing she or anyone could do to dull the sting.
"It's my fault, it's all my fault," he mumbled, "It's always my fault. Always."
"No, don't say that," she ordered, "It's not your fault. There's nothing you could have done."
"If I'd have just let Artemis take the throne…"
"Then other innocent people would have been hurt. There's nothing you could have done to prevent this."
"He was like a father to me," he gritted out.
"I know. But you'll get through this, Caspian, you'll get through this. You need to focus on the trial – he would have wanted you to do everything in your power to right these injustices, and the only way you can do that it to prove that you're innocent and get rid of the corruption in this castle once and for all."
"Elise, I can't – I – I have nothing. I haven't had any family for a while now, but now I don't even have a semblance of one."
"You still have me," she squeaked.
"But you're the only one. Everything else is lost."
"You mustn't think like that…"
"How can I not? I would be dead without that man – I should have been focusing on freeing him, not taking down Artemis. He should have been my first priority!"
"It's no use regretting these things, Caspian. It probably wouldn't have changed anything, anyway. There's clearly someone out there besides Artemis who's trying to take you down. You need to stay strong. You need to show everyone that you're not a force to be reckoned with."
"Oh, I will," he said ferociously, finally looking her in the eye. His despair seemed to have morphed into hatred. "I will find who did this," he insisted, "And I will make them pay. All of them, for this isn't the work of one person. If more blood needs to be shed to right these wrongs, then so be it. Perhaps I was not the one to initiate this battle, but I will be the victor."
Caspian's intensity was a bit frightening, but, if this was the motivation he needed, then so be it.
However, there was something else on her mind: Aurelia.
"Do you think Aurelia has heard the news?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know. I suppose we ought to tell her if she has not, or at least go see her if she has," he said brokenly.
So, that's just what they did. The walked up the long flight of stairs, all the while Elise held on to him supportively. It was odd for her to have to be the emotionally stable one for once, and she was having a hard time adjusting to it. Alas, she did what she could. There was a horrible sense of dread at the forefront of her mind – she sincerely hoped that they did not have to be the ones to inform Aurelia of what had happened.
When they finally reached the door, they noticed that is was ajar. They worriedly stepped inside.
"Aurelia?" Elise called into the silence.
No response.
The apartment was very dark, and there was no sign of anyone.
"Aurelia?" she asked again.
"In here," she heard someone sob.
They made their way into the master bedroom, where Aurelia was on the bed crying. Elise rushed over to her and hugged her tightly.
"I'm so sorry," she said.
"Why him, why him!" she cried, "He did nothing – he was completely innocent! My husband, my husband, my beloved husband. The father of my children. We were married for decades and now he is gone, just like that! Murdered, murdered! How could such an injustice take place?"
Caspian knelt beside Aurelia, too, and held her hand. He knew not what to say, but he hoped that his presence was enough. All she had to do was take one look into his eyes and see that he shared in her pain.
"I will bring justice to this castle," was all he said.
A/N: I really hated to do this, but I think it would be pretty unrealistic if Caspian got away unscathed... Please review!