Chapter 6-Traitor

By the time I finished my meeting with Lady Maribelle, the stars were out and I could barely put one foot in front of the other as I made my way out of the mansion and into the gardens where the Arrowhead Scouts were encamped. My team had set up a campfire in a dug pit that wouldn't damage the surrounding trees and shrubs. The mounts were in the stables and I stopped by to give my mare Slate a few carrots.

A quiet voice came out of the hayloft nearby, "This view is so nostalgic, milady."

"Ack!" I jumped up, now wide awake as I placed the voice. "Ugh! Mister Iniabi, please don't scare me like that!"

He stepped into the light with a strange smile on his lips as he pointed to the illuminated castle in the near distance, "My apologies. I remember visiting Ylisstol when I was very young. My folks were so proud to show their beloved capital off to me."

I realized that I had seen shape of his eyes and the outline of his nose on someone I had met before. Who the Grima was he related to anyway? I pawed through my brain furiously but I came up empty. "Do I know them," I inquired tentatively.

His green eyes looked at me with calm inquisitiveness, "Not yet. But you will someday, I promise. I'm certain you'd like them."

I tried to be encouraging as he had earlier confided in me that his grand quest in life was to find his soulmate, "You once told me your beloved hails from Ylisse. Does she live here in Ylisstol?"

"No. I'm here early; much too early." He shook his head with a slightly bitter smile, "She will live here in due course though; of that I am certain."

I gave the mage an uncertain smile, "You can join us at the fire, you know. We'd all like to be your friend."

He gave a secretive smile, "I'm fine here. Thank you most sincerely for the offer though. Goodnight Lady Mimika." He bowed and vanished as a dark shape into the shadowy recess of the stables.

I sighed softly to myself as I walked the short distance to the campfire. I never could figure him out, no matter how hard I tried. He really was keeping everyone at arm's length for reasons that only made sense to him. However, it really wasn't my place to pry secrets out of my followers as long as they served my cause faithfully.

My maid Ronna's young son Raskin pounced on me and gleefully exclaimed, "Gotcha Auntie!"

I chuckled as I could easily walk with a five year old clinging to my leg, "Heya Rasky. Aren't you tired yet?"

He shook his head as his orange eyes looked up at me with innocence and youthful exuberance, "Nope! I took a nap so I could see you again!" He giggled loudly as his mother watched us with obvious amusement. "Ya'know what Auntie Mimi?"

I saw Bhavin, Siffra, and Raquelle wander over with smiles on their faces. Revellia looked on with a slight look of worry as she took stock of my obvious fatigue. Xolette sat by herself but briefly cast her eerie amber eyes in my direction. I looked down at Raskin as I shook my head, "No, what?"

"I'm gonna marry you one day," he grandly announced to the entire encampment.

Oh, to be young and innocent again. I quickly flushed pink even though I realized that he was far too innocent to understand how romantic love really worked.

Revellia blushed a bit too, "Oh my!"

Raquelle giggled as she patted the little tyke on the head, "You're one smooth talker, squirt!"

"Yeah!" He laughed as his mother tickled his ribs and carried him off to bed.

Everyone around the slowly guttering fire had a good chuckle. Raskin really was adorably precious. Even a sourpuss like me wore an amused smile as I sat down.

Siffra sat down by my side and handed me a bowl of stew, "What is the word Mimi; is it good, bad or stay in bed bad?"

"Thanks Siff." I was starving but I tried to eat the meal with at least a little restraint. "Option two or three I fear. Lady Maribelle says we're going up against Duke Rachelon himself. She said that he is cagy, canny and utterly ruthless as an opponent. I understand that he barely survived the assassination attempt fifteen years ago, and hates my family with a passion."

Raquelle gave a grim nod in agreement, "All true. During a conference with Exalt Emmeryn, he lost his legs in an explosion that killed four nobles. Apparently Count Sieghart had the incendiary device concealed on his person."

"I see. I've always wondered where the Duke's grudge came from, but I was always too afraid to ask. Nobody at the Sunstone Keep wanted to talk about it, especially Aunt Matillia. Maribelle said that although he was never able to fully prove my father's culpability, he is convinced that Lord Paraglaive used his infernal magic to make a magical bomb." I moped as I pondered that three noble houses were brought to ruin by the warmongering traitors Count Sieghart, Baroness Drachenfels, and Lord Paraglaive.

Bhavin refilled my empty bowl with a smile, "My Lady, remember this. You were a toddler when your parents were accused and stripped of their holdings. How can her Highness possibly hold you responsible for your father's sins? Naga would not wish the failings of the parents to bedevil their innocent children.

I downed a second bowl and watched the dying embers with a melancholy gloom. Despite her sharp tongue, Maribelle seemed to be determined to promote my petition to the Exalt with all of her wiles. I soon lay down and was out within a minute at most, as my body and soul were utterly drained.

…

The next morning, something very damp was resting on my cheek as I stirred. I yawned and only half awake I reasoned that I must have rolled off my bedroll into a puddle. Then the moist object started to move! I jumped up with a jolt and flung the small animal off my face in a blind panic. I gawked as a medium sized salamander scurried off into the undergrowth, none the worse for wear.

A high pitched giggle broke the morning stillness, "Ha ha ha! You should have seen your face Lady Mimika! It was so comically twisted!"

I gawked up at a short blond noble lady with her hair flowing past her shoulders regarding me with amusement in her slate blue eyes. She was dressed in white boots, an impractical lemon colored hoop skirt, a white and yellow blouse, a brown leather corset and a frilly lace decoration pinned into her hair. I saw Siff sitting on a bench nearby stifling a giggle at the sight. I quickly got up, composed myself and gave a deep bow, "How do you do, milady? I am Mimi-" I stopped short as I belatedly realized who had just pranked me. "Oh my! My most humble apologies, Princess Lissa!"

She put her hands on her hips and snorted indignantly, "Oh, don't forget to genuflect before the high and mighty Princess Blah-de-blah-blah!" She exhaled in annoyance, "I am not some delicate antique vase. My name is just Lissa." She flashed a warm smile in my direction as my Scouts got up and gawked at our unexpected visitor. "Chrom asked me to tell all of you to report to the Shepard's garrison on the castle grounds. The Scouts can observe the proceedings today while Mimi and Maribelle present their case to my big sis."

I blinked in shock, as I had not expected a royal to speak so casually and personably to me; especially considering my pariah status. Maybe her brother's cosmopolitan outlook had rubbed off on his little sister? "Uhhh…t-the pleasure is all mine your Highne-…I mean L-lissa. You can call me Mimi."

She took my hands in hers and I was surprised how warm and soft they were, "Mimi! It's a nice name." She gave my cold hands a reassuring squeeze and then released them, "So my big brother decided to go tackle another injustice with your unfair exile. Typical Chrom; he has a generous heart to a fault."

I glanced and noted with a mild start that a plain-faced brown haired man clad in a massive suit of silver and orange armor was standing behind the Princess so silently I thought at first he was a garden statue. I gave Lissa's retainer a polite nod, and he looked openly astonished.

Before I could introduce myself another voice that I recognized as Lady Maribelle's echoed in the mist veiled gardens, "Darling Lissa, where are you?"

"Hey! Over here, Mari!" Lissa hopped up and down and waved to her friend with a childish enthusiasm.

The noble Troubadour came over and gave her friend a gentle hug, "You weren't at the castle. I thought I told you that we'd meet up there."

The friendly princess sighed, "You don't need to fuss over me, Maribelle. I'm not helpless, you know." She gestured to the silent knight behind her, "I wasn't alone. Kellam was kind enough to escort me here. I've been dying to meet Mimi after all."

I waved to the kind looking knight who seemed to be perpetually squinting at the world, "Sir Kellam, the pleasure is all mine. Are you a Shepard too?"

His face took on an expression of mild surprise, "Ummm…yes I am. Lady Mimika, you actually noticed me?"

Both Maribelle and Lissa looked amused at the exchange and softly chuckled.

I was now completely perplexed, "Of course I did. Why wouldn't I see you?"

He sighed in resignation with a gentle baritone voice, "I don't have much presence. I usually get overlooked."

I made a bitter smile, "I know what its like on the outside looking in. Guard the Princess well."

"I will. Thanks." He smiled in radiant gratitude. Was it really such a big deal?

Maribelle unfurled her parasol just as the morning rays cut though the fog, "What are we waiting for? Let us depart for the castle at once." She linked her arm with Lissa's and they headed out, chatting amiably.

I turned to my Scouts with a thudding heart, "Let's get this over with. I'll see you all at the castle."

…

The Arrowhead Scouts and I soon entered the Royal grounds and I gaped at the lush gardens. I was deeply touched to set foot on the sacred soil that Hero-King Marth once stood on. I wiped away a tear as I realized I had finally fulfilled a childhood dream of seeing the castle and grounds in person. We quickly reached the barracks which was shockingly austere considering how important the Shepards were to the well being of Ylisse. Maribelle went over my defense with me as the remainder of my Scouts trained and cooked. My nerves grew ever more frayed with each passing second, and I couldn't eat a bite for lunch. Close to noon we walked on foot over to the keep proper. Once I was in the massive building I was overwhelmed by its sheer scale. It was a beautiful building truly worthy for my noble Exalt. Massive column-lined corridors led into the massive throne room. I saw from a short balcony the empty throne at the far end of the room illuminated by floor to ceiling windows. Given the option of bringing two of my retainers in with me as a ceremonial guard I had opted for Siffra and Xolette to serve as my escorts. The silver-haired girl had looked deeply shocked at being selected, but I insistently waved her in after me. As much as I knew my other mage Iniabi was deeply knowledgeable, I had decided that I needed a skilled magic user who I implicitly trusted.

A raspy voice interrupted my stewing, "Well, well. The craven's daughter dares to show her face in her Majesty's court." I turned to take in a grey haired and bearded man seated in a mahogany chair that was had small wooden wheels attached to the bottom of the legs, being pushed in by his slender butler. A female knight clad in head to toe in silver blue armor followed in. The Duke had a blanket placed over his lap, which only partly concealed the fact that his legs ended just above the knees. He was dressed in a severe dark grey tunic and fire red cape. House Rachelon's crest consisted of a shield bisected vertically into a silver left background and blue right background with diminutive contrasting triskelion patterns. In the foreground was a black wyvern facing right with a red eye. He tented his gloved fingers together and glared at me with burning resentment in his grey eyes. Although his scorn was directed primarily at me, he seemed positively disgusted to see my family coat of arms adorning my breast. He nodded up to the butler pushing his chair, "Thanks Jareth."

The soft spoken man bowed, "It is my honor, your Grace." The butler was in a formal white tunic, black pants, dark loafers, black coat with tails, and pale pink cravat around his neck. He had sandy brown hair, a small goatee, and warm brown eyes partly obscured by rectangular glasses. He stood to the side respectfully as his master fixed me with a poisonous glare.

I bowed deeply, "Your Grace. It is a true honor to meet you, Duke Rach-"

"Grima take your precious formalities, Paraglaive! I am here to make sure that the Prince's error in releasing your from your prison was a mistake that shall not be repeated. As I am in an indulgent mood, I will give you one chance only." His eyes narrowed sharply, "Go back to your pathetic Sunstone Keep with your tail between your legs, and stay there until the day you die, little girl. You will rue the day you decide to tangle with me."

I could hear Siffra's molars grind in pure rage, even though she knew better than to express her outrage openly.

Xolette gasped faintly in shock at how much vemon this shipwreck of a nobleman was unloading on me, but she knew her place and remained silent.

I stammered as my knees trembled, "M-my apologies, b-but I must decline your offer." I sadly shook my head, "I will not disappoint Prince C-chrom, your Grace. I am only concerned on doing anything I can to defend our homeland."

Maribelle smirked at she strode forwards with a thick law tone in her hands, "Good morning, your Grace. With all due respect, do not make the error of counting up your victories before the battle begins."

He sighed unhappily at the blond Lady with the curled plaits, "Maribelle, I sponsored your education in the Law. As a favor to our family's mutual bonds of friendship and harmony, don't defend this daughter of the lowest scum."

"That I cannot do, good sir. My word is my bond, and you know as surely as I do that any accused deserves representation."

He waved his hand in bitter regret, "I respect your devotion to the law, even if defending a Paraglaive is a Fool's errand." He huffed in indignation, "Your funeral." He was wheeled by Jareth to the right side of the balcony that had a small podium set up. My retainers, Maribelle and I went to the left side where there was an identical setup. Just as we reached our positions, the doors below us opened up and a crowd of nobles and commoners soon filled the room along the side walls and center. Rows of guards dressed in blue cloth and leather armor and pointed silver helmets wielding polearms kept a watchful eye on the proceedings. Just as the doors were closed, Prince Chrom and Princess Lissa entered from the back accompanied by several Shepards. I recognized Frederick and Kellam at once, but not the spike-haired blond fighter wielding a massive axe.

Trumpeters behind us sounded a fanfare and the doors behind the main throne opened to reveal a group of five Pegasus knights escorting the Exalt; headed by a stern woman with golden light steel armor, tied back platinum blond hair and serious red eyes. I knew from my Aunt Mattie's description that this was undoubtedly Chief Knight Philia; the best Pegasus knight of the Halidom.

I watched my monarch glide into the room with complete awe. The Exalt herself was attired in green sage robes trimmed in yellow and white, with gold Roman numerals adorning her brown collar. A polished gold tiara with broken arcs of circles forming a partial halo behind her head was attached to her luxurious blond tresses. She calmly wielded a scepter with a crescent atop the staff an inset blue star sapphire. She had a supremely serene face that greatly resembled her younger sister's with contemplative grey-blue eyes and golden hair pulled to form gently coiled strands that draped down the front of her shoulders. Unmistakably marking her as Naga's most blessed was a blue teardrop shape encased in a u-shaped circle on her forehead. It was the same mark that I saw a few days prior on Chrom's right shoulder. She gave a courteous nod to her people with a soft smile then took her seat. "Chrom, my dear brother. You have let me know of news most dire from the border with our unstable neighbor to the West."

Chrom bowed with obvious respect to his eldest sibling, "Yes, I do." He pointed in my direction, "Lady Mimika can vouch for the fact that undead monsters that were corrupted humans emerged in her forested estate right up against the border not even a week ago."

Suddenly all eyes in the room were directly on me! I squeaked softly in shock and willed myself with all my might not to faint. I felt Siff's strong hand on my shoulder, supporting me both physically and emotionally. I tried to speak but no sound came out the first few times. I finally managed to torturously speak. Better to face the gallows than speak in public I cursed to myself. My face bloomed pink as I made a fool of myself, "Er…ummm…I-I…Ummm. That is…I…C-chr...I mean P-prince Chrom is c-correct! The Risen undead a-attacked my p-people….I…I don't w-want to see anyone else die. Please b-be vigilant your H-highness."

Exalt Emmeryn gave me an encouraging smile, "Thank you Lady Mimika. We will heed your urgent warning." She turned to the Prince. "You also took Lady Mimi into your custody to contest her family's exile status?"

"Yes, dear sister. I believe she has more than rehabilitated her family's name. However, I will let her representative Lady Maribelle plead her case." He smiled up to me, "I trust her."

Maribelle cleared her throat and spoke fluidly and assertively, "Thank you, your Highness. May it please the royal family, the Lords and the Ladies of the court to introduce you to Lady Mimika Paraglaive of the Sunstone Keep. For the past thirteen years she had steadfastly stood between Ylisse and the vainglorious king Gangrel of Plegia without asking anything in return except security forces. I dare anyone present to offer any evidence whatsoever that Mimi has failed to execute her duties as a faithful sentinel or conspired in any way to damage this great country or harm our royal family!" She gave me a fierce smile as encouragement. "May it please your Highness, this lady does not wish her estates, vassals, or coffers restored to her. No child should ever be held liable for the actions of their parents, especially as Mimi was still an innocent babe when her father turned on our fair land. All that she seeks is for her family name to be restored to its rightful place, and for her exile to be rescinded so she may valiantly join Prince Chrom's Shepard brigade to defend our freedoms that we all cherish. Thank you all. Long may the Exalt reign." She curtsied and we turned to face Duke Rachelon.

He was propped up on a wooden platform so he could see over the podium. "May it please your Highness, and members of the court. I would like to open with this statement. Are we really truly ready to live and let live, as my protégée Lady Maribelle would have you believe? Nearly a dozen people including four nobles died due to this heinous attack against our ruler fifteen years prior to today." He sneered at me coldly as his voice thundered accusingly throughout the room, "Six other were maimed for life. Your Highness only escaped from harm by the slenderest of margins. Are we truly willing to forgive the Seigharts; whose family head initiated the attacked and insanely blew himself up so he could assassinate our fair Exalt so the war against Plegia could drag on endlessly? Are we truly willing to forgive the Drachenfels clan, who supplied the depleted Manakete dragonstones to form the core of the Magic shard bombs? And are we truly naïve enough to forgive the tainted Paraglaive family, whose Lord personally used infernal magic to infuse the gemstones with lethal flames?"

Maribelle gently squeezed my shoulder and calmly retorted, "Your Grace. No one disputes what transpired. But can you prove that Mimi herself wishes harm to the Royal family?"

He nodded with a cruel smirk, clearly relishing his opportunity to finally exact his revenge on my family with me as its proxy, "What if I told you that Lady Paraglaive has had the means and motive to seek revenge on our fair ruler?"

Nearly everyone in the room gasped at his audacity. I had been moved to tears by Maribelle's speech in my defense, and I grew indignant that this fractured and bitter old man was determined to convict me for crimes I couldn't have possibly committed.

"If you have proof, then provide it. With all due respect hearsay and rumors are inadmissible and you surely know it."

Could anything ruffle Lady Maribelle's feathers? How could she be so blasted calm about this white hot pressure on her shoulders?

Duke Rachelon motioned for a steel rusted box about two feet on a side to be placed on a table by the railing so that all could see it. "I present Exhibit A; the Paraglaive box of treachery. Thirteen years ago, Lord and Lady Paraglaive traveled to Plegia to make a deal under the table to use some of his hellish weapons to assassinate nobles that supported Exalt Emmeryn. They were waylaid by bandits, robbed and slain. They had three of these crates in their possession at the time of their deaths. The brainless brigands opened one with an axe and seventeen of them died in the resulting explosion. The other two were retrieved by mercenaries hired by Pegasus Knight Matillia to recover the bodies of her lieges. Unbeknownst to her those mercenaries were employed though my family connections. They derived the bodies and one of the boxes back to the Sunstone Keep; the other crate came into my possession." He chuckled, "Tell me Lady Paraglaive; do you deny having a chest of exactly this shape and markings in your Keep's secured treasury?"

My face went from pale to ghost white. I looked at Maribelle and then to Chrom and Lissa with a wounded expression of an oblivious traitor. "I….I. M-m-may it p-please y-your Highness. I r-remember a crate exactly like this in my K-keep as long as I can remember, but I was never t-told of its contents. Please your Highness! Matillia isn't to blame for t-this. She mustn't get into t-trouble. I am the head of the P-paraglaive family, so I must be held responsible."

"Exactly right," the Duke agreed with a wolfish grin.

Maribelle spoke up indignantly, "But you cannot open the lock, can you? Without the magic signet ring that only one of the Paraglaive bloodline can wield, how does anyone know that this crate is filled with a pretty rock collection?"

Duke Rachelon looked on me with smug victory, "You have such a ring, do you not Paraglaive? Open the box, and we will all see."

I stumbled forwards numbly and used my father's engraved ring with the family crest and inserted into the lock. With a cloud of rust, the latch threw open after thirteen years of neglect. I opened the hinge lid with a shriek and stared in horror as I saw a framework of straw filled with six dragonstones. All appeared inert, so I reached out with a badly shaking hand and held it aloft as tears cascaded down my face.

"Do you all see? Behold the traitor! At any time she could launch a sneak attack! I say put her in the dungeons or our fair country will never….will never…" His stentorian voice suddenly petered out as his eyes widened to absolute terror, "Ahh! Paraglaive, you idiot! It's activated! Someone, strike her down!" He screamed as Jareth yanked him off his seat and shielded his master with his body. His knight bodyguard also crouched nearby to protect her liege.

The gemstone glowed with a pure crimson light as ethereal flames danced around it. No! I reacted on pure instinct. I threw myself to the ground and covered the bomb with my own body. I screamed, "Siff, Xollette, Maribelle, run now!"

Siffra's jaw trembled as she knelt by my side, "No my Lady. I'm sorry."

Xolette sat on my other side to stand in the way of the blast and gave me a frail smile.

I cursed my fate and waited for the end…and waited.

Maribelle looked pale, but she walked over and offered her gloved hand, "Its okay Mimi. I just scanned the bomb. Your will to protect the court deactivated it." She gave me a bright smile, "Well played, my dear. That was such a selfless act. The Exalt will never forget your bravery now."

I gaped stupidly up at her after verifying the bomb was indeed inert. What the Grima had just happened?