Disclaimer: Did I remember a disclaimer last chapter? Oh well, here goes: No, Breezefire is not Mercedes Lackey, much to her dismay. Only sad little Breezefire, all alone, sitting at her computer typing away stories when she is NOT Mercedes Lackey.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, I've been having some problems with writers block writing this chapter. ::Breezefire whacks writers block on the head with a shoe.:: It may take a while for the next chapter, too, because I am having some serious writers block issues. I have also been writing –cough plug cough- my one shot, Scar of a Lifebond, which may end up taking three chapters to complete.
This chapter is a little boring, but necessary, and not one of my favorites. The verdict has to come; although you probably already know what the verdict is going to be. Read and find out if you don't! Review responses:
Herald Kelsin: Sorry for the cliffhanger, here's the continuation! Thanks for the uplifting comments, I felt better I haven't put this on hold yet, I'm just stalling. Stupid writer's block issues! Here goes the chapter!
Fireblade: Nope, you didn't review. Only one chapter you missed, though, so it's all right. The plot will tie itself together sometime, hopefully! Here's the next chapter, hope you like!
Chapter 6: Trial and Verdict
Jaseen returned to her jail cell, in a state of shock.
Why would Prtif feel guilty? Of all people! Did he do it?
Jaseen thought of that possibility for a moment, but quickly discarded it as irrational.
Why would he do that? Still, he did feel guilty about something. Or maybe…maybe I'm sensing his emotions wrong. Maybe I'm hallucinating; I can't really feel other people's emotions.
Frightened by the prospect of her insanity, Jaseen attempted to take her mind off that and focus on another topic. Her mind immediately jumped to the upcoming trial.
I have no proof, no evidence that I did not do it. Not even an alibi, however weak!
Jaseen returned to the cells brooding, in the company of a solitary Guard. As she walked in front of the Guard, entering the dungeons, she felt a hand quickly feel her back, and drift lower. Outraged, Jaseen slapped the rough fingers, until she felt a smooth steel blade brush against the side of her throat.
"Be careful, sweetling," the Guard murmured. "Wouldn't want to get injured out here, would you?" The knife blade gently drifted up to her eye, touching against the soft skin under her eye, puncturing the skin. A blood drop slowly rolled down her cheek, staining it red. Jaseen could see a tinge of dried, scarlet blood on the tip of the blade, and she recoiled, her face involuntarily moving away from the harsh tip. "Or never see sunlight again?"
Scared of the prospect of pain, especially loss of vision, Jaseen lowered her hands slowly to her sides, as the Guard grabbed her, and began to roughly feel at her, pulling her robe up. It ripped, causing Jaseen to gasp loudly.
"Are you all right out there?" another Guard called from inside the dungeon. "Get in here, she has to be guarded until after the trial and verdict." Angry as his 'fun' was stopped, the first Guard slapped Jaseen hard on the face as she entered her cell, throwing her bodily to the ground.
Face stinging, robe ripped, and body injured, Jaseen collapsed in her cell and began to quietly sob, her throbbing cheek sinking into her pale white arms, blonde hair covering her face and features as tears began to pour down her cheeks.
-- --
The Judge's voice rang out into the crowded courtroom, "Guilty."
Cruel laughter echoed throughout the hall, and Jaseen turned, to see Ma'ar chuckling at her plight, dark eyes lighting up with mirth.
Larle appeared, and grabbed her throat, as Jaseen turned and saw his lifeless, opaque eyes. She shrieked, as Larle put a sharp blade to her eye and sunk it into the soft eyeball, blood spurting.
The Guards surrounded her, throwing her to the floor. One ripped her tunic from her body, and descended upon her, coming closer, opening his mouth for a kiss…
Jaseen woke up, sweating profusely. She took a second to realize that the nightmare was not reality, and another few moments to fully register the fact that her trial was today.
"Guilty, the rest of your life will be in prison." Mold, mildew, dirt, the stench of urine, for the rest of her life! Cold, dark cell, the Guards coming in with knives and whips…
Once again, Jaseen broke herself out of her gruesome imagination, and forced herself to think straight.
Concentrate, Jaseen. What are you going to say at this trial? What are you going to do when they accuse you?
Jaseen ran through multiple possibilities of the speeches Ma'ar and the King would make against her. It was a Royal crime, because she supposedly "murdered" someone involved in Court, so the King and the Court would be present.
They could ask her why she broke up with Larle, and why she felt threatened by him. Jaseen began to prepare responses when her cell door clanged open, with the sound of the rusty door scratching against the dirty stone floor. Jaseen flinched and looked up.
"Breakfast, sweetling," the Guard said, holding out an old, chipped china bowl, with dirt rimming the edges. Inside was dark brown and green gruel. The spoon stuck into the center of the pile of mush, protruding from the food at a strange, awkward angle. "Eat up, your trial's in about a mark. Although this verdict isn't going to be much of a mystery," the Guard laughed as he left the cell, closing the door and locking it securely behind him.
Jaseen looked at her gruel in distaste, pushing it away from her and eating nothing.
I'll be out of here soon. At least, I better be…
Jaseen quenched that thought down securely into the bottom of her mind, and waited impatiently for her trial to come.
-- --
"Welcome to the Royal Court." The loud words echoed throughout the stern wooden hall and through Jaseen's mind. "This is your Court Judge, judging on the case of poisoning of Larle, chief assistant to the advisor of the King." As the Judge repeated Larle's exact words on the night of their breakup, only three nights ago, Jaseen had a sudden flashback, the memory of their breakup rushing back into her mind.
If I hadn't broken up with him, I wouldn't be stuck in a courtroom right now.
Jaseen pushed the thought away.
I couldn't expect this, and I could do nothing about it!
As she accepted that, Jaseen turned away from her line of thought and concentrated on the trial at hand.
"The King, may his reign end in peace, is presiding over this trial," the Judge continued. The Court rose, bowed, and took their seats once again. "His chief Advisor, Ma'ar, is also here as a witness to the scene." Ma'ar rose, lowered his head a tad in acknowledgement, and once again took a seat. Jaseen noticed that he had not risen to bow to the King.
Jaseen turned around and scanned the seats, anxious. She saw Larlai, but not Prtif. Another absentee from the trial was Takril, her own brother.
I wonder why they didn't show? Maybe they were busy.
"And the trial will begin. Jaseen is our suspect for this atrocious crime, as she is one of the only people within the Court who had the motive and the opportunity to carry out this murder." The crowd booed, the mob mentality taking over.
Jaseen walked up to the podium and took a seat on the very edge of her chair. She glanced at the Judge, who stared back at her with a cold, unreadable face. The King's face was anxious, and Ma'ar's was hateful and cruel. Jaseen stopped, and looked down at her feet, reviewing her story. She told the precise truth to the Judge and King, the crowd booing at random intervals.
"I believe you have said enough," the Judge interrupted at the end of her story. The King nodded in agreement. "Now, we call up the esteemed Advisor to the King, Ma'ar." Ma'ar sat down upon the pedestal, and raised his face to the Court. His dark eyes seemed to glitter with malice and greed that only Jaseen could see. She could feel it, radiating from his body like the sun gives off heat and light, rays of pure, unadulterated cruelty.
"I entered my assistant's room, as the servants here can verify," Ma'ar began, the servants nodding their heads vigorously with every word. "Suddenly, Larle appeared as though he were beginning to choke. His face turned an unsightly color, and he died quickly. The tests the Court has performed," Ma'ar gestured roughly towards the judge, "have found that there was poison on Larle's plate. A mysterious robe, looking as though it was owned by this murderous young woman, was found in the room. The conclusion seems clear to me," Ma'ar finished maliciously, smirking at Jaseen, who was hunching low in her chair.
"It seems clear to me as well, my advisor," the King added. His words seemed to make the whole Court setting irrelevant, as whatever the King said was law. The Judge smiled, in premature triumph, and announced, "The Court and the Judge declare: this young woman is guilty of murder and poisoning. With the lack of concrete evidence," the Judge paused as the King scowled.
"I amend, since she was in the heat of anger when she committed this crime, Jaseen must be sentenced to…" the Judge looked at the King's angry face, and finished, "a lifetime sentence in prison for her horrendous actions." The King and Ma'ar nodded, prideful.
"We have caught the murderer. Let there be celebration!" the King announced. One of the members of the audience threw his hat in the air, and it caught on, the entire Court celebrating Jaseen's downfall.
Jaseen clutched her head and miserably sobbed, the Guards clutching her, tying her hands behind her back, and escorting her roughly down to the prison, where she would remain indefinitely, with no sight of release on the horizon.
A/N: This chapter wasn't long enough, but I needed to get something out. Writer's block seems to be plaguing me. Not my favorite chapter, but at least I finally got her into prison so I can continue with the rest of the story. It isn't over yet, it's not supposed to be an angsty, tragic story, although so far that's what it seems to be. Still more coming! I haven't solved the robe or the Prtif guilt problem yet, but hopefully it just keeps you reading. Please review, thanks, hope you enjoyed!
Wind to thy wings, Breezefire