Moonpriestess30: You missed my Red Dwarf quote. Also, yes he's adorably protective.

Judy: Glad to see you're still about and reading


Chapter 197 – Deep sufferance.

'This isn't going well is it?' Makatza whispers to Fenris as he leans down slightly to hear her better. She sat on her throne, her jury in a large, specially built stand to the left of her and the witness stand to the right. Many, many people had come to see the trial. People Katza wouldn't have ever expected, it seemed that she was more popular than she thought, having only ever heard the opinion of the Nobility. Aveline was doing a commendable job keeping the large crowed that spilled out the throne room in control. The wolves lie at her feet and it made an impressive and daunting scene before the people of Kirkwall. She had already had to demand silence from the crowd and threatened to hold them in contempt should there be any more outbursts.

'The people are respecting your wishes and there has been very little need for the guard to get involved,' Fenris reassures.

She rubs her eyes, even though she had been careful not to have too much to drink last night it was still at the front of her head. The slight ache that she was stubbornly refusing to heal with magic. It was only a headache and self inflicted at that. 'Any trouble from the Jury?' She asks as she glances over at them and forces herself to smile as Arnold catches her eye.

'Aveline has arrested Lady Joiline, she was caught speaking to her soiree of guests regarding the trial. She has been replaced by Lord Sirot, Lady Sirot's son,' Fenris admits, he would have rather not told her but she asked him bluntly.

'Great, that's the next one that I'm going to have to deal with,' she sighs. 'Other than that?'

'Other than that there have been no problems,' Fenris assures as he places a hand on her shoulder for comfort. There was a sudden chatter amongst the crowd as Lady Crewe was led through them, chained but in clean clothing and well treated. Aveline brought her forth past the crowd to Makatza who sat up straight. Fenris squeezed her shoulder before straightening and paying attention to his surroundings.

'Lady Crewe, you have been accused of treason, attempted murder, and murder. This trial will determine if you are guilty or innocent. Evidence will be brought forth and presented to the jury, they will make a decision, unbiased and fairly before presenting their conclusion to me for final judgement. Are you clear on all proceedings?' Makatza asks as she speaks in a loud, firm voice bringing the crowd to silence. Elgon got up and decided he wanted head scratches from Makatza while she was speaking, she obliged and only hesitated for a moment, watching the fear in the woman's eyes. 'Do you have anything to say before the trial begins?'

Lady Crewe's eyes flash with fire, 'you are nothing but a half breed mage, you will bring this city to ruins. Your incompetence is only rivalled by your intelligence,' she hisses. 'How dare you do this to a Lady of the courts!'

Makatza holds up a hand to stop Fenris from moving and there's loud complaints from the crowd, some in agreement with her, some completely opposite. 'Enough,' Makatza says loudly. The Guards try to hush the crowd but they had become quite riled. Makatza stood up and slammed her boot on the ground, causing a small crack in the tile as she raised her voice even more. 'I said, enough! I will have silence. This is not a bar room brawl. Be silent in my courtroom or you will be held in contempt. Do I make myself clear?' She demands as she looks across the people. Silence was her answer and she nods and clears her throat. 'Good, if you wish to holler like children and badly behaved dogs, please take it outside,' she says earning a small laugh from some. 'Thank you, now Lady Crewe, if you are ready we will begin,' she says in merely a courtesy rather than an actual question. 'Guard Captain, please remove her bonds, for she is innocent until found guilty.' Aveline raised her brow but indeed removed her chains, leading her to the stand that she was to be in during the trial. Makatza had tried to make the trial as fair as she could and not create any bias towards the woman who's life hung in the balance.

So the trial began, it was a long and tedious process with every piece of evidence scrutinised and picked apart, trying to find the fault or the damnation of innocence. The headache that Makatza had been ignoring had gotten worse as they day went on, the only reprieve came from her Seneschal who let her know that it was time to break for the midday meal. Knowing that there were going to be a lot of people in and around the Keep for the trial Katza had arranged for food to be served to those who wanted it. Lady Crewe was escorted back to a side room under heavy guard and Katza was lead up to her office for the mealtime. Fenris held open the door so that the wolves could come in and then shut it behind them. 'You are doing well,' he comments to Makatza who had almost fallen into her chair.

'Maker almighty, I'm already exhausted and the trial isn't nearly over,' she complains. 'Is it going well?' Makatza asks wondering how she was going to manage to stay awake for the rest of the process.

'There have been no arrests and no attempts on your life, so yes, I would say it is going well,' Fenris nods as he removes his sword. Makatza stands up and walks over to him, falling into his chest as she hugs him. He always knows how to make me feel better, she thinks happily to herself. 'The evidence is compelling, I can read it on the jury's faces. They are most definitely going to choose guilty,' Fenris warns lightly as he gently holds her.

'If they choose innocent I'm going to be looking over my shoulder every day in fear of revenge for publicly embarrassing a noble of the court. If she's found guilty I have to constantly look over my shoulder for convicting her,' Makatza sighs. 'I'm screwed either way to be honest.'

Fenris nods, not in agreement but just generally. 'My Katza, if the woman is found guilty have you decided what her fate will be?'

'You said so yourself that the people won't accept imprisonment and going by the crowd today, I agree. I won't have a spectacle made out of her death though,' she said quietly. 'I don't want to do this, I don't want to have to have her blood on my hands. If I sentence her I might as well be the one that holds the blade that kills her,' Makatza mumbles closing her eyes and not wanting to think of it.

He strokes the back of her neck lightly, her hair was up in a high bun and with her circlet on, he didn't wish to make her look untidy. 'You have decided on beheading should she be found guilty, then?' He asks.

Makatza sighs and pulls away a little, 'I was trying to think of the most painless option. If she were hanged there's a chance that she's just going to dangle there and slowly suffocate. If I use poison there's a chance it doesn't work. I can't see being shot by an arrow quick and painless, I know it fucking hurts no matter where you get shot,' she says trying to joke. 'So, I landed on …. beheading. It's so medieval and … barbarian but I can't think of a more respectable way.'

He agrees with her thought process and leads her back to the desk as he heard footsteps coming along the corridor. The maid knocked on the door and entered with some food for each of them and a couple of large bones from the kitchens for the wolves. Fenris thanks the young woman and after giving the wolves their treat has to practically force Makatza to eat something. 'You will feel worse if you do not eat.'

'I know,' she complains. 'I'm just not hungry though.' Fenris doesn't take no for an answer and even threatens to delay the trial until he convinced that she's eaten enough. It doesn't take more than that threat to encourage Makatza to eat as much as she could without feeling sick. When she returned to the throne room everyone was waiting, she apologised for being late with a very pointed look at Fenris which he returned with an arched brow. The trial continued and Makatza looked across the crowd, there were a few familiar faces, to her surprise she saw her father and Merrill near the back. She didn't think they would be joining, her father didn't like large human crowds and Merrill was more cautious about being around the Keep. She continued to scan the faces in the crowd and spotted Cullen speaking to one of the guards. A pit formed in her stomach, he was in his uniform so he was clearly here on Meredith's orders. That annoyed Makatza, she had offered an invitation to Meredith but it had been refused. The more she thought about it the more it angered her. With a wave of her hand she attracts Fenris' attention. He leans down to her, 'Take Ser Cullen into one of the side rooms, I wish to know why he's here. I'll be there in a moment,' she says softly. 'Thanks.' Fenris allows himself to give her a half smile, she didn't need to thank him, it was what he was there for but he appreciated the thought.

Makatza watches as Fenris easily weaves through the crowd and speaks to Cullen, leading him to one of the side doors. Katza catches Aveline's eye and gives her the predetermined signal for a break. The Guard Captain begins to speak to those gathered letting them know of the brief intermission while Katza makes her way over to the room where Cullen had been stashed. She entered and closed the door sharply behind her. 'Lady Lorias,' Cullen says smiling a little. 'I hope you didn't stop the trial on my behalf.'

'What are you doing here?! I asked Meredith if she wanted to have a Templar presence here, she refused. I will not have her undermine my authority by having Templars skulk around the sidelines as if keeping an eye on me!' Makatza snaps, the headache hadn't gone and felt like it was getting worse.

Cullen has the decency to look embarrassed. 'I'm sure that's not what she's trying to do. It's just that her duties didn't allow her to come to the Keep-'

'But her second in command's did? Cullen, I'm not stupid. I know she doesn't trust me, I really don't care. But as of this moment a woman's life hangs by a thread. I have to decide whether she is going to live or die and I don't want the Templars reminding everyone that I'm a mage! The last thing I need is people thinking I sentenced her to death because I am a mage. That doesn't help anyone. Viscount Dumar may have only been in power due to Templar sufferance but I won't be the same. Either she's involved in the well-being of this city, or she's not and she holes herself up in the Gallows,' Makatza snaps.

Cullen sighs, he had argued this point to Meredith but she insisted that he come. Fenris didn't look amused and he was a little concerned for his own well-being at this time. 'Look, …. Makatza,' he says hoping that his informality wasn't insulting. If anything it seemed to calm the metaphorical bristles that were showing. 'I'm sorry, I don't want to be here. I am literally just following command. She wishes to know the... temperament of the city at the moment. I think she's concerned for another uprising and she thinks this will be the trigger. A noble woman, on public trial? You're playing such a risky game here. You are betting everything on this display of justice. You know that she's guilty, you have several witness accounts and even her name from one of the assassin's themselves. Why are you going through this charade of proving her guilt?'

The Viscountess sighs and runs her hands down her face. 'I am trying to bring equality to this city in whatever form it can be. If the conspirator were someone that was more... worker than nobility, wouldn't their trial be public knowledge? Along with their punishment? I am trying to show the city that no matter the roots of your birth you will be treated fairly and no special treatments will be given. It is unfortunate that such a thing had to be shown with a trial of murder and treason but such is the way of the world,' she mutters.

Cullen takes pity on her, he could see that she was trying so hard and he feared that it was all for nothing. 'I understand. Yet, I cannot ignore Meredith's orders, I have to stay.'

'Then you'll stay under official capacity, not skulking around questioning the guards. If you require any information simply ask Guard Captain Aveline. When we go in, please stand by her so that you're seen by everyone. Fenris, can you let Aveline know what's going on?' Makatza asks getting a nod as he leaves the room. She looks at Cullen and tilts her head. 'You think she's guilty.'

'Without a doubt. I shouldn't tell you this but the Templars did their own investigation regarding the attempted assassination and we came to the same evidence and conclusion as your Guard Captain. That woman is guilty and indeed tried to have you murdered,' he says simply. 'Turns out the Crewe family are in a lot of debt and with your law changes regarding pay to servants and workers it would have bankrupted them within the year,' he explains.

Makatza nods, 'Aveline also has this information?'

'Yes, she also found and investigated the accounts and debts in the family name,' he confirms.

'Very well, thank you, Ser Cullen, if there is anything you need please don't hesitate to ask, be it food or information. I will write to the Knight Commander regarding this situation, I am not happy about how this came about though of course I do not mind you observing the proceedings,' she says softly. 'Shall we?'