(Disclaimer I do not own any of these characters that would be Richelle Mead)
Dimitri POV
A week later we are in the same council hall where this all begun waiting for Lazars trial to begin. It was going to be a double trial with both Lazar and Cain being charged today.
The hall had been changed to reflect a court room with the podium at the front seating the 12 heads of the royals. Minus Lazars seat as until he is either found guilty or acquitted the other members of that family were unable to officially appoint the next prince or princess which will be the next oldest member after Marcus. Also as Lazar was on trail having another family member vote on his guilt would be seen as a conflict of interest. So an extra Badica lord was representing the 12th seat. In the middle of the group was the thrown where the Queen was sitting.
Like all major trials where a royal was being charged it will be the royal council themselves that will hand down punishment of the accused but I can safely say that If the council doesn't use their full force on the little basted I will kill him myself with my bare hands. Not only did he mean to kill the woman that I love and mother of my child he was also hoping to kill my son, a four year old boy, a child for gods sake how evil and heartless can you get.
Where there was a large void in front of the podium which three weeks ago Roza, Abe and myself holding Ivan stood now sported two long tables, where the defending lawyers will sit with their clients on one table and the lawyers for the prosecution on the other. To the side was a singular table for when witnesses were called. But like that day the pews and gallery's are fit to burst. You could not fit any more bodies in here if you tried. There were people pressing there faces to the windows in hope of watching today's event.
All the gang are here sitting in the front row apart from Lissa who is sitting on the Dragomir seat up on the podium. Luckily none of us will probably have to go up to testify as apart from our roles the first day when Rose was shot we had very little to do with the gathering of evidence and the shooting incident was recorded by the courts CCTV. No point having us retelling the events when they can just be shown on a screen.
All of us were tense this will be the first test on how this society will look going forward. Never has a royal been sentenced for a crime that does not involve another royal, so in the past Lazar would of most probably got away with a slapped wrist and maybe having to pay out some compensation to the victim. Hell it probably would of never got to court and been brushed under the rug.
Adrian is trying to lift the tension we are all feeling by stirring up shit with Jessie who is sitting behind him. I would usually find his antics amusing or annoying most days but today I'm so intent on how Rose was doing I don't even notice the words they share. I have Rose's hand in my own which she is holding in a death grip the only outward sign that she is nervous. That's when Rose who must of been more focused then I was on what Adrian was doing turns around in her seat looking right at Jessie.
"Hey Jessie what happened to your wrist?" She asks innocently looking at the bulky cast wrapped around his hand and lower arm even though we've been told the story by both Mia and Eddie.
The whole row breaks out laughing earning a glare from the Queen up on the podium.
Ivan and Luca are being cared for by Di and Meredith as children under the age of 18 are not allowed at these proceedings. Not that we would want him here anyway. While we've been at court we have tried to take him out as little as possible to keep him safe from both sides. Fans and haters. But now that the schools have broken up for the holidays there were a lot more children milling about and the older royal children were all outside the council hall watching the proceeding as best they could to take the gossip with them back to school after the holidays finish in a few weeks.
While I was waiting for the trial to begin I couldn't help looking back at this past week and wondering how I got so lucky, everything was falling into place. I couldn't help but remember the events that led to it all.
Flashback
I'm standing against Lissa's dinning room wall I'd taken guard duty tonight so that Janine could spend some time with Rose and Ivan before her leave ended and she would have to go back to Lord Szelsky. Lissa was having lunch with Chris, Tasha and Craig.
Craig was trying to feed Luca while also trying to feed himself it looked as if he wasn't succeeding in the task which was making everyone else laugh.
Even though I was on guard duty, like always they included me in the conversations going on. I know they would have me sit down with them but as always I refuse, I take the position seriously and know if anything were to happen getting up from a sitting position would cost me precious seconds.
"You'll be leaving me soon won't you Dimitri?" Lissa asks with sorrow in her voice.
I looked straight at her. "I won't leave you with a substandard guardian until I'm happy with the allocation I'll be right here." I assure her.
"Oh Dimitri no one will ever meet up to your standards and I don't want you here if that means you being away from your family." She emphasised. "I would love for Rose to stay here, we're are just getting back to where we were before everything went wrong. But its obvious she has moved past being a guardian, with her charity and the freedom her father offers her. I'm happy for her she has made something beautiful of her life and I know we will always be sisters even if we can't be together. Also with all the dangers still here to herself and Ivan I wouldn't want to see either of them get hurt. So no you will find someone before the trial finishes or I'm going to tell Hans I don't want you to be my guardian any longer. You Got that?"
Looking at Lissa shocked. She was just smirking at me but I could see the slight hurt look in her eyes, looking then at Christian and Tasha who were just grinning at me. I can't lie it was the best news I'd heard as it freed me to be with Rose but I was also sad to be leaving Lissa's side and vowed that I would get her the best guardian I could find.
Well with that decision out of my hands I knew who I had to go see but what if he refused me. So the next day I was standing outside Zemy's office door with my hands all clammy from nervousness, how did this man scare me more than strigoi I have no idea. Before I even got to knock on the door Pavel opened it.
"Ah Belikov we were expecting you."
They were? Did that man have spies everywhere!? Walking in I see Abe behind his desk going through some things on his laptop and Gav on the couch under the window where Pavel joins him indicating for me to take a seat in the armchair to it's side.
Abe looking up from his laptop taking me in before he asks. "What can I do for you Belikov?"
I take a deep breath in preparation for the speech I had practised a million times in my head over the last twelve hours. Squaring up my shoulders and facing Abe straight on.
"I'm a guardian it's the only thing I've ever done and I'm good at it." I start off. "I don't want to loose this chance with Rose I messed it up the first time round and I don't plan to do it again." I pause looking at each of them in turn before continuing. "But I want to continue to work and not have to follow Rose around living off her earnings, nor do I want to put Lissa at risk by leaving her with a guardian I don't trust. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on how I can be with your daughter, still work and keep Lissa safe?"
Abe smiles at me nodding."Well this is your lucky day Belikov. We have been putting our minds together for just this reason. How would you feel about Gav guarding Lissa?" Abe asks.
Well I wasn't expecting that! "Gav would be the best person I can think of to guard the princess but why would you want to leave your post here Gav?" I have to ask as I remember him once saying that Abe was his first and hopefully only charge.
"Don't think I'm doing this for you Belikov. I like you well enough, not enough to change charges though! I want to do this as there's change coming and the princess will be at the heart of it." He answers me seriously.
"Gav you once said that you were loyal to Abe. Your a great guardian but I need to know that you will be loyal to Vasilissa." I realise that I could of sounded like I was questioning his motives, being rude to a fellow guardian but apart from Rose and Ivan, Lissa's safety came next in line to me.
Gav doesn't take what I said to heart instead continues explaining his decision. "You were right about her and the way she treats others which will make guarding her easier. She has earned my respect and I will always put her safety first. The princess is also Rose's best friend and bond mate I would never want Rose to be unhappy by something I've done we are family which makes Vasilissa family too. The other real reason I want to do this is to be in the thick of it and witness the change first hand. As a sanctioned guardian it will make it easier with Hans for us to switch charges." I can't believe my luck there must be a catch somewhere.
Pavel turns to me. "Belikov, Gav is a team leader he runs a team of 10 guardians you will be expected to take over that responsibility when you join the squad and you will be answering directly to me." He informs me. "Rose is a stand alone so she too answers directly to me when it comes to her guardian duties. It also means she is not part of any of the teams unless it's when we are hunting strigoi."
He looks at me obviously making sure that I'm still following along. I nod at him to continue.
"Your team will be responsible for her safety when she is not guarding Abe and is out doing charity work. It's generally an easy task as she is either behind wards at night, as you must have observed yourself we run on a human timetable? Or she is in communes which do get the odd strigoi attack but nothing we and the other dhampir can't handle. What worries me is if or should I say more likely when strigoi hear about her what they will try to do. Also there will still be Moroi and even some Dhampir that could pose a threat to her. This is why we have decided to try to come up with another alias for her, the Anna alias won't work any longer but maybe a charity worker or something along those lines." He finishes with a shrug. "Well what do you think can you handle stepping up to team leader?"
End flashback
Coming out of my reminiscing I can't help but smile at how it has all turned out, not only do I get to spend my time working along side Rose I have also been promoted to team leader. I'll still be a sanctioned guardian which means I'm not losing my title. I know that sounds superficial but after being a guardian going on twelve years and being proud of my many achievements while in the role I want to keep that title as I've earned it.
I have lead teams in the past but this gives me a permanent team leader role. Gav is an experienced guardian who will look after Lissa's safety and has proved to me that he really will look out for her and be loyal too. I can leave with confidence that she is being looked after.
Just then the council members who weren't already up on the podium come out and take their seats as two court guardians drag out Lazar and Cain in cuffs. A collective BOO sounds around the hall. The people are definitely on Rose's side. This is a good thing it means even the council members that would of privately cheered his efforts to kill her will have to be seen as putting distance between themselves and his beliefs.
Rose POV
As I watch the two men who tried to have me killed take a seat next to their lawyers I tightened my hold on Dimitri's hand. Dimitri must've felt the change of pressure and squeezed my hand in return. I could tell that he knew I was nervous but I wasn't nervous for the reasons he thought. I was nervous of what my own actions could be. It would be far to easy to jump over their table from here and slice both of their throats using the long knife I had in my boot. Those two did not just try to kill me something I could over look, they also hoped to kill my son which is unforgivable. The only thing stopping me from doing it was the thought of never seeing my son again as I would be the one ending up in Tarasov.
I had totally zoned out daydreaming about slicing throats that I did not hear any of the lawyers opening speeches. I came back to reality just in time to hear the Queen ask.
"Marcus Lazar how do you plead to the charges brought forward against you today?"
Lazar standing up and turning towards the Queen. "Not guilty your Majesty."
At that the whole courtroom broke out in loud murmurs and a few choice words were shouted down towards the Prince from the pews further back as he sat back down.
"Order please we will have order." The Queens voice boomed over the gathered masses. "Darius Cain how do you plead to the charges brought forward against you today?
Cain next to stand up and face the Queen. "I plead Guilty your Majesty."
Again the room become a buzz with people speaking under their breaths to their next door neighbours. This means that Cain won't need to be cross examined unless he is testifying against Lazar which I hope that he will as that would be damming to Lazars defence. Still Cain will have to sit there for the duration of the trial to await his sentence.
For the next couple of hours we hear the guardians who take the stand explain how they pieced together the evidence against Lazar and also how some witnessed Cains confession out in the woods. We also watched the footage of my shooting and saw the evidence of the paperwork from the gun purchase.
This part I already new and I was fast becoming bored of the back and forth between the defence and prosecuting lawyers. I could feel Dimitri rubbing his finger over my knuckles the only sign that he was also getting a little fed up with the defence trying to trip up the guardians who have testified today.
Looking at him I can't help but feel a high better than any endorphin hit. This perfect person is mine and now that he was Abe's second sanctioned guardian I will not have to say goodbye to him in a few days when we finally leave court.
My son will see both his parents at the same time not having to split his time between us. We will be a family.
As long as this trail goes the right way, life was almost perfect. I can't help but look back and remember how everything came together for us.
Flashback
It was four nights ago I was already in bed when I hear Dimitri creep into the room after just finishing his shift with Lissa. He still technically had a few days left of his leave but was kind enough to cover for my mother so she could spend her last evening off with me before going back to her charge.
Dimitri must of thought I was already asleep as my back was turned towards the door and the room was dark with the blackout blinds down and the lights turned off. What he didn't know or see is that I'd actually been awake for hours crying to myself. The trail was set to happen in three days and we would be leaving in five. This was it the last few days I would get to spend with him as a family after which god knows what will become of this relationship. Yes we loved each other but could we stand being away from the other for long periods of time. Ivan's free time would end up being split between the two of us like what the humans call joint custody. A 50/50 split.
Feeling the bed dip as he got in on the other side of me I spun round to face him. I know he won't see the track marks on my face from the tears that have already fallen, or any tears still lingering in my eyes as it was to dark.
"I'm sorry Roza I didn't mean to wake you." Dimitri whispers to me his face only a few inches away from my own.
"Shh you didn't." I say as I grab his head from behind softly pulling it towards me and begin to kiss him hungrily.
Every time Dimitri and I have been together we take our time stretching out the experience wether it be slow gentle love making or the more energetic animalistic sexual experience. There was always touching, teasing winding each other up to the point of multiple organisms. But tonight I just needed him and the instant gratification that came with it. I was desperate and wanted to keep him with me always. The fear of losing him fuelled my need.
I pushed my hand in between our naked bodies and started stroking his half erected penis until he was hard enough to take me. All the while hearing in my ear that was near his mouth his breath get more ragged with the occasional throaty moans my ministrations brought forth.
Pushing his shoulder so that he laid flat on his back. I sat up swinging my leg over his hip and straddled him. Bring my hand back down grasping him I slid my way down bringing us together as one. My head rolling backwards with the pleasure it brings.
My movements mirror my emotional need for him and Dimitri senses this, he senses that something wasn't right with me. I could see his concern in his eyes directed at me even though I was on top of him, bringing him pleasure. He just let me take what I needed from him without question. Once we were both spent he rolled me so we were on our sides facing each other.
"Roza what's wrong?" He asked me concern lacing his voice making his accent more pronounced.
I just shake my head I know we will have to talk tomorrow about this but right now I just could not face the reality of it. Of us having to say goodbye.
As if reading my mind he seemed to know not to push me so instead pulled my head into his chest and wrapped his arms around me securely holding my body tight against him.
"Whatever it is Milaya it's going to be okay I promise." He whispers into my hair kissing me on the forehead.
I don't know how long we stayed in that position but it was at least as long as it took for me to fall into a deep sleep. All the emotional ups and downs adding on top of that the worries I had over our safety and the up coming trail had finally taken it's toll on me and I slept like the dead that night.
Waking up in the morning Dimitri was already up and gone. Getting up I got into the shower and got myself dressed for the day. Looking at the closed door of my bedroom I just couldn't bring myself to leave. I knew that we would have to discuss our future or more likely lack there of. Leaving my bedroom would mean a start of another day, another day closer to going. So when Dimitri finally came back in a few hours later he found me pacing back and forth in front of the window sobbing.
"Milaya what is it? Please talk to me it's obvious something is wrong." Dimitri asks taking me in his arms.
"Comrade you know whatever happens I'll always love you and I'll never keep you from seeing Ivan even if we are not together. You know that right?" I stutter into his chest.
"That's great! But why are you telling me this?" He asks pulling away from me so he could look me in the eye, one of his hands brushing my hair off my face.
Taking a deep breath I move away from him to take a seat at the end of our bed. Placing my hands in my lap with me just staring at them, my head down so that my hair fell forward hiding my face. I count to five to calm myself down before looking back up at him. He is just standing there looking at me with a confused expression upon his face.
"Comrade we will be leaving a few days after the trail. It's time we talk about what that means for you, me and Ivan." I see he wants to say something so I continue before he can interrupt me. "Dimitri I will never keep Ivan away from you, you will always have visitation rights whenever you want. If you want to also try to make this work between us I'm all in. But I will totally understand if you feel that this thing we have won't work because of our other commitments." I take a breath and feel a tear run down my cheek which I quickly wipe away.
Dimitri comes over to the bed and takes a seat next to me grabbing one of my hands in his. Turning to look at me he pulls my hand towards him forcing my body to turn in his direction.
"You'll be leaving after the trail and I'll be coming with you." He states with a smirk looking at me with pure joy in his eyes.
End Flashback
Coming back to the hear and now the courtroom is deathly quiet as the royals step back in having reached a verdict for the two would be assassins. Watching all the royals retake the seat the Queen stands and asks in a loud clear voice.
"Have you reached a verdict?"
The Queen was not part of the final decision as she would only decide if and when the crime is punishable by death. Those sorts of crimes are rare. Usually always only when the crime has resulted in someone's death, a royal death.
"We have your Majesty." Prince Zeklos answers after standing up.
"Will the accused please stand." The Queen looks over to both the men.
Both Lazar and Cain stand up causing their chairs to scrap over the floor making quiet a few of us wince from the sound.
The Queen turning back to Prince Zeklos who was still standing in readiness to read out the verdict. "Prince Zeklos you may continue."
"Mr Darius Cain you have been found guilty of attempted murder and endangering innocent lives. for those crimes you are sentences to 25 years in Tarasov without chance of parole."
There is a collective outraged cry from the pews as if a non royal is getting such a low sentence then more than likely if found guilty Lazar will only get half that length in incarceration. 25 years is a large chunk in a human lifetime but Moroi live an average lifespan of 120 years. Lazar is only 50 so he will be out by the time he is 65. Still young enough to enjoy himself maybe even get his title back.
Prince Zeklos ignoring the loud murmurings of the audience then turns to Lazar who is looking around with a smug smile on his face coming up with the same conclusion as the rest of the people gathered.
"Marcus Lazar you have been found guilty of hiring a hit man, attempted murder and endangering innocent lives. For those crimes you are sentenced to 50 years in Tarasov without chance of parole."
I look around stunned as some clap and cheer. There is also a few that boo at the outrage of sentencing a royal Moroi so harshly for what they see is a crime against a Dhampir. But I don't care about those small minded bigots today. A Moroi in power finally had justice handed down to them, today showed the Moroi society that there will be consequences to their actions. My job and the charity's role now is to make sure this new regime continues to fairly punish those who hold more power.
As if reading my thoughts Zeklos continues. "As a royal you hold certain privileges but with those privileges comes duty. You are looked up to for guidance, fairness and this position demands you to look after those that we rule over. Just because there is change does not give you the right to hurt or even kill what you neither like or understand. You failed in your duty to satisfy your own wants and greeds this makes you worse than any common criminal."
With that Prince Zeklos takes a seat.
