Authors: Xan and Vallen
Rating: R
Warnings: One thing… Or, lot's of things: This is a story with yaoi/shounen ai/slash,
whatever you want to call it. If that sort of stuff isn't your thing, then
don't read it. But, we hope that you do…
Disclaimer: The characters Marth and Roy, plus "Altea", do not belong to us. We
just use them for our pleasure.
Feedback: Yes. (That means we would love to hear from you and what you think!)
Notes:
Xan: My GOD there were SO many thankyous to type up, but keep 'em coming! It was so cool! We have almost 500 reviews now! I wonder if it'll ever get that high with only 2 more chappies left now… We can always hope, right? This is an important chapter, so read carefully guys! Hope ya love!
Vallen: This is SO awesome! Two more… Two more…
A very important announcement: Make sure you visit our new website! Go to our user info for the link!
Thanks to: Jennie (Shway, we're heros! 'Course, I'd rather be a villain, but I won't complain. It's funny hearing somebody telling us to finish it soon instead of telling us NEVER to finish. ^_^), punk ikhny towryk (*giggles* Maracas! That's awesome! And yes, Gwen is great! We're glad everybody likes her so much 'cause she's really important to Marth and Roy. And we needed a girl character in this fic. ^_^;;), LilFilipinoGurl (Yes, only two more now… Wow, it'll be scary when there's only one left. Then how will y'all be? Oy… And yes, there will be kissing in the next one, never fear), The Flame Panther (No no, don't wither away! You still have to read the next one and review! Is it so bad that a great fic only has three chapters left, but there's an entire nother sequel coming up? Maybe even longer than the first? [erm, that's not a promise, so don't hold us to it or anything…] ^_^;;), Sinnatious (^_^ Yep, I was proud to get that one out so fast! Go Xan! Oh, and we have a sappy level alert that goes off whenever we get close to the limit. That's how it works. That and their relationship doesn't make for much sappiness, so…), Sake Girl Duelist (*cracks up* that was great! Oh, I have to write that down…), Pichu*Star (Yes, King Bastard finally got his ass handed to him. I don't know why, but the thought of him having a few toes gone really amused me, so I stuck it in. Yes, pirates rock! ^_^), tikimoof (Bwaha! Foiled your plot, did we?! Actually, it was because I had been feeling guilty about not updating in ages and I was bored one night, so I typed them both up. And yes, the skirts are gone! No more skirts!), pannybaby123 (yep, they're gonna live together in the castle… cute ain't it? Hopefully that's on the safe side of sappy…), MarthRoyFan (Aw, sorry about that, but no more kissing. They're too busy to just sit around and smooch!), Yami Hikari the Elf (Mmm…. "perfection" We like that word. It ISN'T perfect, actually, but we're certainly glad you think so! It's always good to meet more diehard Marth and Roy fans! Be sure to keep reading!), GSfailure (Yep, buncha chappies up since you reviewed last! Glad to see you're back though! *types like a madman*), Shea (Sorry! Don't cry! Yes, all good stories come to an end, but this good story has a sequel!), Crockgirl13 (I'm typing as fast as I can for you!), Dark Comet (Oh no! That sucks! We'll just try to imagine what it said, okay? Don't worry too much about it- ff.net's been kinda screwy so it's okay. And I'm updating as fast as I can! Good thing it's summer…), Ryuke-Naoe (Wai, chibi fanart! We'd love to see it, but don't stress 'bout it, okay? Glad you liked it!), YoshiMars (Mmm, I like the interaction between Marth and Gwen too… They have a really nice relationship that develops more later on. Marth and Roy aren't out of the woods yet, but just keep reading!)
Gwen and Roy appeared in the specified room, the Council Chamber a few minutes later. Gwen looked quite pleased with herself, the satisfaction of doing a good job for her new master showing in her face.
"I found him, your Highness!"
Thank you, Gwen. Excellent job." Marth told her approvingly, pleased to see that her beaten morale had already risen a tiny bit.
Roy straightened himself with a cough. He looked alive again, wearing royal blue pants, shined brown boots and a rich red long-sleeved shirt. His hair was still damp, held back by his tried-and-true headband and the bandages on his torso were well-hidden by his clothes.
"Hello, Marth. I haven't seen you in a while…" The teen greeted smoothly, referring to the other side of Marth, the Prince.
"I don't believe anyone has. I haven't seen you in a while either, General Roy."
Roy nodded curtly, looking around the grand room. The floor was fine, veined white marble upon which was a long, rectangular table carved of dark brown mahogany. Nobles had not yet started to filter into the room, so they were quite alone for now.
"Did you summon me for a reason?"
"Many of these nobles had to have helped Gaimen overthrow us. We must punish them accordingly and set an example to others. I wish to eradicate all traces of his reign, starting with his conspirators."
"Are you saying that we'll execute the guilty, starting with Gaimen?" The boy-general questioned, his voice not revealing whether he approved of Marth's methods or not.
Marth closed his eyes.
"Yes. I cannot rule if I know that my peers helped to sell us into slavery. A king must be able to trust his advisors and nobles, just as they must be able to trust their king."
"It sounds like the right thing to do. Don't hesitate – I have a feeling that whatever you decide will be the right choice." Roy spoke calmly, then frowned. "I am getting into the habit of acting stuck-up way too fast."
"Gwen, another job for you. You are to inform Roy exactly when he is being stuck-up." Marth said, a tiny smile quirking his lips.
The girl looked horribly surprised, but could not refuse.
"But I…"
"Oh, now that's real mature, Marth. Grow up." Roy retorted, brushing past the prince and soon to be king and taking a seat at the long table.
"You said it, not I." Marth told him, sitting at an ornately carved throne-like chair at the head of the table. As a younger man, he had thought of procuring a round table when he became king so that all of the council could have an equal seat, but now as a monarch returning from disgrace, he was glad at the opportunity to look down at his betrayers. His amused expression changed instantaneously as the first of the nobles walked warily into the room.
"Have a seat, gentlemen." Roy said stiffly, but quite loud enough so that they could hear them.
They eyed the two young men, but sat at the table as per Roy's orders. Many of them were old and wise and they knew full well that by the end of this meeting that there would be several more necks for the gallows. This method of execution was crude and often inhumane, but it was also fairly quick and effective. Plus, the people of Altea could see the traitors die like the scum they were.
"Gwen, kindly remain near the door. This may become unpleasant and I do not wish for you to be harmed." Marth told the girl. She nodded and moved obediently to that place. The nobles who had heard his words flinched inwardly. This did not bode well for them.
'You do have guards posted outside, do you not?' Marth sent to his general.
Roy glanced over at Marth and gave him a curt nod. He cleared his throat to catch the attention of all the men present at the table.
"Listen up. It would make this a whole lot easier if you would just come forward and reveal yourselves. Which of you conspired with Gaimen?"
All of the nobles in the room sat up straighter, unnerved by Roy's plain speech. They stared first at the general, then at Marth, wondering why it was this child who claimed to be a general speaking to them instead of the prince himself.
Marth merely looked back at them, his hard blue eyes clearly awaiting their answers.
"None of us, your Majesty. We have no idea what you speak of." One finally spoke up and the others around him nodded, speaking their agreement.
The room became noticeably colder at Marth's hands tightened on the carved arms of the chair.
"Be advised that it is your best interests to be truthful." He said icily.
Roy did not want to come off as a loud-mouthed sidekick, so he kept his mouth shut. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment and prepared to listen as the pompous men said whatever they could to try to save their sorry hides.
"Your Highness, we had no idea that Gaimen plotted this behind our backs! We know nothing!" Another exclaimed, a note of panic rising in his voice.
"I really must emphasize the fact that Gaimen himself has told us the names of quite a few of the traitors amongst your ranks, so it would be wise to admit to your deeds rather than be taken and tortured until the truth is beaten from you." Marth's voice was eerily calm, his eyes gleaming, daring any of them to challenge him. It was a lie, of course, but it was a very good, convincing lie and it would probably encourage some of the very guilty parties to confess.
True to Marth's predictions and hopes, a few men stepped forward and began confessing their crimes and naming others in the conspiracy, much to the horror and anger of some of their mates.
Marth gestured,
"General Roy, I believe that you have men standing by to apprehend these men?"
"Of course." Roy replied, standing and walking to the doors. Gwen moved quickly to let him pass. A dozen armored guards hurried in, holding their weapons and awaiting orders.
"These men," the general began. "Are guilty of crimes against Altea and its king. Keep them incarcerated until they are ready to be hanged."
The guilty men protested loudly, their faces becoming red and angry.
"You can't do that to us! We are members of the Altean aristocracy!"
A tiny smile quirked Marth's lips, one that the nobility should have recognized as a bad sign. That smile held nothing but danger for them.
"Oh dear, I seem to have forgotten. Perhaps that long period while I was a pleasure slave has done things to my memory."
"Ha. I wager that you liked it too much, you little whore." An older man sneered, stroking his beard.
"Take them," Roy ordered before Marth could reply to that. As commanded, the guards, with some difficulty, led the traitors away. They still protested loudly even as the door was shut.
"General, please take note that I would like to supervise the punishment of that last man myself." Marth said too calmly before turning back to the remaining men.
"I trust that the rest of you have nothing to hide?" He stated.
They all shook their heads, muttering negatives and eyeing him warily.
"Good. Then you won't object to being interrogated just to be safe. Thank you, that will be all for now." He nodded to the guards, who led the rest of the nobles from the room, leaving Roy, Marth and Gwen alone once again.
The girl was characteristically silent, waiting until she was spoken to or given permission to speak. Her fragile nerves were shaken up a bit, but she was fine otherwise. Roy on the other hand, had gotten up and started pacing. He stopped himself and glanced up at Marth.
"So that's it? All we have to do now is watch them die?" The boy-general questioned. "I can take care of that."
"No, there must be a trial." Marth sank back into his chair, rubbing his temples with a thumb and forefinger. "The people themselves will decide our fates now. But I have faith in them."
"Oh. And you'll finally be crowned king if that goes well, right?" Roy questioned, walking up to Marth and placing a hand on his shoulder. He touched the royal's face gently, pulling Marth's hands off his temples and replacing them with his own. He could make headaches go away, he thought.
Marth closed his eyes and made a noise of pleasure and appreciation in his throat.
"Yes. I will be crowned king at last."
"Must feel good to finally achieve one of your goals." The general murmured, removing his hands. "Are you going to be okay, giving your testimony and talking about everything that happened in front of the people?"
"I'll be fine. You needn't worry yourself about me." Marth answered. "But what about you? Are you prepared to reclaim your old position? I'm making you my second-in-command, you know."
"No problem," Roy retorted. "I'm actually glad to be getting more responsibilities – I don't like feeling idle. And I'm really looking forward to having a room in the castle. Thank you… Oh and this thing is all over, don't hesitate to give me work to do."
The boy-general bit his lip, looking away. He knew the trial would not be easy, but they would be called murderers and guilty of treason if Gaimen and his conspirators weren't found guilty first by proper trial."
"I'm afraid that I'm going to give you all the work that you can handle and then some for quite a while, my general." Marth steepled his hands and gazed thoughtfully at nothing. "I have traveled through my country and I have not liked what I have seen. There will be changes and I need your help to implement them."
"I'll leave you to think about them, then. You can keep Gwen with you, but I'm going to go somewhere for a little while until the prisoners and the gallows are assembled."
Without giving Marth time to answer, Roy walked out. Even though he was supposed to be in the castle, he still didn't really feel like he belonged there. It would take some time, he thought. So instead he went to the soldiers' barracks.
Marth shuddered inwardly at the mention of the word gallows. Kings whose reign had begun with so many executions had rarely been good rulers in the past. Marth wanted desperately to be a good king, to wash the blood and despair from his country, but would he ever be able to wash it from his own hands?
The prince groaned, feeling the headache slowly return. What he really wanted was to be back at Rowen's. He missed the privacy and tranquility of the wilderness, the simplicity of it. Now everything was complicated.
"Oh." Marth looked up at Gwen, having just remembered something. "Gwen, send word that Colonel Sanders and Colonel Brently of the Altean army shall also be tried in the court, please."
"I will… I'll just go tell them by word because I… I can't write. The captain of the guard needs that information, right?" The servant girl asked quietly, fingering the hem of her ratty shirt. She was afraid of men, but she would be brave for the person she served.
"Ah. I'll write it down, then. Remind me later to procure proper garb and lessons for you." Marth scribbled down the order and handed it to the girl. "Hurry along now."
Gwen smiled a bit and ran off quickly, leaving the future king to himself, alone in the room.
TBC…
Xan: *bursts into tears… again* Only two left! Our baby is so… so… WAH I'M SO PROUD OF IT! *goes off to type more*
Vallen: *stares at Xan* And she didn't even mention her own "Colonel Sanders" joke… *puzzled*