Disclaimer: I only own the Councillor, and the two Councilmen Tiana and Flynn. I only borrow the others. I promise to return them when done, no worse for wear.
Author's Notes: This chapter covers the third and fourth hours of the trial. More Shakespeare, and Harry Potter references. There's also a Tolkien/Lord of the Rings reference, two in fact. Especially as Mithrandir belongs to him.
Ayla: More slices to come.
dramatiks: thanks. So, I don't suppose this would be the time to mention the majority of my 'law court' research comes from episodes of Law and Order?
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Just a little greenLike the color when the spring is bornThere'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrowJust a little greenLike the nights when the Northern lights performThere'll be icicles and birthday clothesAnd sometimes there'll be sorrow – "Little Green", Joni MitchellThe Councillor frowned. He cast a glance to Jareth, but that mask still lay firmly in place. Seemed the Goblin King was taking that order of passiveness literally. His frown deepened, and he ordered the call of the next witness.
Flynn rose in his seat, and in his gestures, he made the motion seem almost cocky. He heard the whoosh, from the annoyed breath of air Tiana released. Figured he would react like so, seeing as his witness, seemingly so perfect to his testimony, turned last minute. A tiny, triumphant grin crossed Flynn's mouth, gone before it had a chance to arrive. "Thirteen o'clock to soon?" he muttered under his breath.
"Your next witness, Councilman Flynn!" the Councillor ordered again. This time, the frown had disappeared, and the Councillor's eyebrows had knotted together in an expression that meant business.
"Of course, Councillor, I apologize. Permission to call Sir Didymus to the stand, Councillor."
"Permission granted," the Councillor sighed. "Just do hurry up. We are already into the third hour, and unlike you, Councilman Flynn, this trial will not be seeming to end anytime soon."
"Yes, Councillor." Flynn ducked his head stiffly. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Tiana chuckle, and suddenly, his invisible grin widened. "And, it's Ludo Bagman," he hissed. "Baggins is the surname of Bilbo and Frodo, former citizens of Middle-Earth."
"Like you didn't verify that for yourself while I questioned the last witness," Tiana hissed back. "Keep this up, and see if I grant your last request at this trial's end, hum?"
"Councilmen!" the Councillor roared. "Do save the bickering for the later hours of the trial. "Must I remind you again that we have barely started, and that we are trying to keep an ordered, and respected profile?"
"Of course, Councillor," both men mumbled, and they crossed quick, unreadable glances.
The Councillor sighed again. He swore he saw the barest hint of a smile whisper across Jareth's face, but it was gone before he could be certain. "And where is Sir Didymus? Time is running short. This trial is not exactly a piece of cake, you know?"
"No doubt collecting his noble steed, Councillor."
The Councilor raised his head sharply, from where it had collided with his podium. The sharp hit had not hurt, he did it often enough from witnessing the unusual antics between Tiana and Flynn in a courtroom together. If anything, the sharpness with which he raised his head hurt more. He peered closely to the voice's source. "And you know this for certain, Your Highness?"
"He takes the dog everywhere," Jareth shrugged, but still that impeccable mask remained in place. "Even to when he, Ludo and Hoggle storm the castle fighting at a friend's side. It's sickenly loyal of the devotion between those two, much like Launce and Crab."
"I'm sure," the Councillor agreed, but a tiny smile graced his lips. "Very well, we shall simply have to call on Sir Didymus at a later time. Who was your next witness, Councilman Flynn?"
"Fiery Number Two, Councillor."
"And he has all his parts attached?"
"He did promise he would."
"Then call him in. The defense will be satisfied."
"Tis, Councillor."
"Prosecution calls Fiery Number Two to the stand," the Councillor called. "Councilman Flynn, direct your questioning at will."
Parts indeed intact, the Fiery took to the stand, a strange sort of smile on its furry face. No wonder it was called a Fiery, its color gave it away. "You certainly progressed ahead in this trial?" it grinned mischievously.
"What if I ask the questions right now?" Flynn returned the smile, no ifs really the question. "You first met the Miss Sarah Williams in an oubliette, correct?"
"Yes."
"Did the Goblin King give your orders to distract her?"
"Yes."
"So, what did you do?"
"Took off our heads."
"Did you not perform your usual song and dance number as well?"
"Yes."
"Was Sarah the first girl you had met there?"
"No."
"But she was different?"
"Yes."
"Did Jareth want you to distract her so that he could turn her brother, a human babe, into a goblin babe?"
"Objection!"
"Sustained. Re-ask the question."
"Did Jareth plan to turn the human babe into a goblin babe?"
"How else did he plan to get a head?"
Flynn raised an eyebrow. "Is that why he had you and your brothers distract her?"
"How else were we to entertain our brains?"
"Your witness," Flynn flipped to Tiana, as he retook his seat. He rested his head in his palms again, and again, his midnight blue hair fell across his shoulders, and over his hands.
"Do you have any proof of that?" Tiana demanded. He had risen from his seat, but he had not rounded the table. And, his eyes burned. "Well, do you?"
"We have our heads."
"No further questions, Your Honor." And, Tiana sat down again. He looked briefly at the startled Flynn, and he felt a familiar smirk rise to his lips. Flynn's response didn't faze him.
The Councillor nodded for the Fiery Number Two to leave the stand, and he watched the creature leave carefully, to ensure no spare parts were left behind. "Your next witness?"
"Mithrandir," Flynn answered quietly. Too quietly, Tiana quickly noted. "The prosecution calls Mithrandir to the stand," Flynn repeated. He waited several seconds, giving the wizard time to settle himself, before he finally stood to round the table. He half-leaned, half-sat on the table's surface, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Is your name truly Mithrandir?" he asked, and still his voice was in that same, quiet tone.
"I have been called many names. Mithrandir is what I called by the elves."
"What would be your most common name?"
"For order of this court, Mithrandir is fine."
Flynn nodded, and he stepped away from the table. He came to stand close to the witness stand. "Please state the nature of your relationship with the defendant, the Goblin King, Jareth for the court."
"You might say we're old friends through an old friend."
"And this old friend is familiar with the workings of the labyrinth?"
"Yes."
"Are you?"
"I have seen many cultures in my lifetime, Councilman. And, while I am the most familiar with that of Middle-Earth, I am not unlearned in the others."
"So, you are familiar with the labyrinth?"
"Yes."
"As well as with the rules, and the laws, and the certain regulations?"
"Correct."
"So, if I were to say that the Goblin King has committed a treasonous act in his threats to turn the human babe into a goblin babe, what would you say?"
"I would say it is none of my business. And, a wizard is never wrong."
"Nor late, I would imagine," Flynn muttered.
"No, nor early." Mithrandir smiled, and he shifted his staff from one hand to the other. "Treason is a very dangerous act to accuse."
"What do you know of treason? What do you really know of our culture, of our life, of our ways?"
"I know enough, and I certainly know treason. And, I know that he who breaks something has left the path of wisdom."
"Has Goblin King broke something in your opinion, Mithrandir?"
"I was not aware he had anything specific to break," the wizard answered, and from his voice tone, it was obvious he was humored.
Flynn sighed, and he returned to his seat. "No further questions, Councillor."
"Your witness, Councilman Tiana."
"Do you think he left the path of wisdom?" the said Councilman asked, and he echoed Flynn's quieter tone.
"If he did, that is not for me to judge."
"But you think the temptation might have been there?"
"Perhaps. But if you are going to go into that comparison, Councilman Tiana, who's to say everyone has not left that path?""
"What is your honest, opinion of the Goblin King?"
"I think he made the right decision. For him."
"No further question," Tiana stated quietly, and having never risen from his seat, he had nowhere to return, as he had never left.
Mithrandir left as mysteriously as he had arrived.
The Councillor forced a smile. "I think we are all in dire need of a quick break, no? Jareth, a word with you please. Tiana and Flynn, five minutes only. Use that time wisely."
No one seemed to notice when the two opposing Councilmen left the courtroom together, or when they returned together. In three hundred years of working together that was another thing that everyone was used to.
With Jareth back in his seat, mask back into place, the Councillor straightened his glasses frames on the bridge of his nose. "Is Sir Didymus still not ready?"
"He's not, Councillor."
The Councillor sighed. Perhaps he should have granted longer than five minutes after all. "Proceed with plan," he ordered. He began to believe this trial would never end.