Chapter 25: One Final Matter
Matthew was soon fully recovered, and although we both felt a strong urge to return home, we decided to remain in the Land of the Faerie until I gave birth to our daughter-- Elaine and REHtoMna arranged for the next nine months' rent to be paid on our apartment, so we didn't have to risk the chance of being evicted, and having to find another place to live.
I lay beside Matthew on the large bed we were now sharing; he had been moved from the hospital-wing bedroom to mine, so we slept beside each other in the night. We felt more whole than we had in weeks.
My pregnancy now fully accepted by myself as well as my husband, I reveled. The morning sickness still came every few days, but other than that, it was a pretty smooth transition from then on.
And though I was still haunted by everything I had experience in the presence of Jacqueline, I chose to attempt to forget until a later time when I could talk to someone about it. My heart ached over the spirits of my dead friends and family I had been able to set free. I longed for them to live again; although I knew it was utterly impossible for such a fantasy to become a reality-- even in worlds where magic was a reality.
I closed my eyes, and focused on Matthew's gentle snores to coax me into sleep…
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many weeks passed, until I was reminded of something I had tried my best to forget, and was then forced to explain everything to Matthew; the Viscount, and his sexual advances and rape attempt. Matthew's eyes widened in surprise, and he swore that he'd kill "the no good son-of-a-bitch as soon as he saw him."
The Queen informed me that he had been spotted just outside the Kingdom; as she explained, he had disappeared after I had threatened him, and had not been seen since, but the faerie people were simply outraged by what he had attempted to commit, and he was wanted for several other counts of attempted and committed rape, as other girls had come forward with their stories.
After having finished her story, the Queen asked if I wanted to have a part in finding him, and bringing him to justice; immediately, I nodded my head as an indication of yes, and Matthew and I left to find the sick bastard the following morning.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We arrived in a strange place just outside the Queen's Kingdom by means of a flying carriage-- and this time, she had been able to book a private one; a notion that caused me much relief, so that there wouldn't be any hushed whispers whenever I wasn't appearing to be listening.
Matthew held my hand as I stepped from out of the carriage, and into the bright sunshine; guiding me, and protecting me from slipping in the mud. He tipped the driver of the carriage handsomely, and as it was the custom, we boldly waved to him as the carriage zoomed away into the blue skies.
Then, he turned to me, asking "Are you ready for this?"
I nodded, "I want the bastard to pay for his crimes, Matthew-- of course I'm ready."
He nodded in response, squeezing my hand ever so gently, and we began to walk around the place in circles, "Where the hell was he spotted, exactly?" I asked.
"Somewhere around here," Matthew replied, and I shrugged my shoulders, unsure if he was actually still here.
And then, movement in the distance-- Matthew grips the small hunting dagger he has brought along tightly, and I nearly scream at the sight of the Viscount as he stumbles towards us. He is obviously still drunk-- I wonder if he's been drinking all this time, I thought, as he caught sight of us. He raised the flask to us, drained it, and then tossed it onto the muddy ground, "Back, my love?" he asked, obviously only seeing me through his crazy reddened eyes, "I've been waiting for the moment when I could have you for my own," he stumbled closer towards me, and I could already smell the stench of heavy alcohol on his breath; it was then that Matthew sprung into action; jumping towards the Viscount from beside me, and punching the man so hard in his stomach that he fell to the floor, and immediately passed out.
"Good job," I murmured.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After making completely sure that the sick pig would not awaken for a long while, we returned to the palace via the traveling diamonds. REHtoMna greeted us in the Grand Ballroom, and had the Viscount jailed.
She smiled at us, and we went back upstairs, and slept for a few more hours, after the grueling days' work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although I was informed that the trial would begin in a few days-- a week at the most, it was delayed for several months-- seven to be exact, and by the time it rolled around, I had outgrown all of my clothes, and had been forced to request maternal clothes to accustom my changing body.
My belly had rounded, and I was eagerly awaiting the day when I would give birth; I had been examined by doctors, and had been informed that as this was my ninth month of pregnancy, I would give birth any day now…
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The trial began, and I was asked to testify against the Viscount. I stood from my seat on the side, and tottered over towards the stand in the center, "Ms. Beatrice?" an ancient woman asked.
I nodded, surprised by the dull and flat tone of the woman's voice at what had been labeled as the "hottest trial of the century" by someone.
"How did you know the Viscount?" she asked.
"His aunt, the Queen REHtoMna had him escort me on my way to find my husband, Matthew," I replied, smoothly, having gone over my responses a million times before the night before, "he was constantly drunk, and attempted to have intercourse with me. I fled, not very amused by his advances, and he later caught up with me in the forest and tried rape again. I overpowered him, and told him to stay away from me if he knew what was good for him. He did, and if this court doesn't put him away, then I guess the legal system here is worse than those on earth."
The stiff lady nodded, alerting me to the fact that my part was over, so I immediately returned to my seat, then noticing the stifling heat of the courtroom. I was relieved that it was over; I had looked and felt like a fool in front of the hundreds of faerie who had decided to show up, as I was so far along in my pregnancy… But, I would do anything to put the sick fuck away-- his youngest rape victim had been a seven year old girl.
I stared coldly at the Viscount from across the room; life in prison certainly was not doing him any good; his once "perfect" dark hair had faded to a dull gray-- guess who'd been using dyeing potions for over a century? His teeth also looked like they were rotting out of his head, while his normal high from his overusing the bottle was a major no-no now, and it was safe to say that conjugal visits weren't allowed for a rapist and attempted murderer. I smiled, and wiped some sweat from off of my brow. I felt sick. I felt completely different-- What's happening to me? I wondered, wildly.
And then, it happened, just as the judge was reading the verdict; my water broke, just as the word "Guilty," was heard all throughout the courtroom, resulting in a strange combination of cheers and surprised gasps.
"She needs help!" someone screamed, and I was then led from out of the room to deliver my daughter into the world.