Author note: hi there! This is a one-shot I wrote for NWN1, as I felt that the part of the game about Fenthick's trial could have been handled differently by the creators. I understand plot needs and all that stuff, but still, it didn't sit well with me, so here is my version of it. The protagonists mentioned at the beginning are my OCs for the game and for the NWN1 story I have sitting in my hard disk waiting to be written: Aysha Scarlet is a female human cleric/thief (priestess of Lathander), while Li'Daer Zauvirr is a female Drow mage.
You can see the portraits I made for them in the story cover: top line from left to right are Li'Daer and Aysha, bottom line is the portrait I made for Daelan (I know he already has one, but I didn't like the original portrait).
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It was finally done: Li'Daer Zauvirr, Aysha Scarlet and Daelan Red Tiger had found all the reagents needed to create the cure for the Wailing Death and the cure had started being given to the population of Neverwinter as soon as the true priests of the city had completed the process of synthesizing it. Now, twelve days later, the number of deaths had drastically dropped, those who still were sick were quickly recovering and Lord Nasher had decided that it was the right moment to put Deshter Indelayne and Fenthick Moss under trial for their part in spreading the plague.
"The people will not be satisfied with only Desther's death after all that's happened. They will claim for Fenthick's blood too", Aysha said as she, Li'daer and Daelan rested in the small living room of their quarters in Neverwinter, her voice filled with worry, "He always defended Deshter from all the accusations, they will think he was in league with that son of a bitch, eve if he is innocent!". Li'daer nodded, biting her lower lip, "I know. But maybe we can change their mind, make them see reason…". "To a city that has suffered the Wailing Death? Good luck", the human replied, then sighed, "Still, it's worth a shot. We have nothing to lose".
"Except your life", Daelan intervened, frowning, "What if the people thought that you too were in league with the traitor? You could end up on the gallows with him and I can't…", he cleared his throat, a slight blush on his brown-grayish cheeks, "It would be a shame, after all you've done for this city". "Even so, I will not stand by while an honest man is hanged for a crime he didn't commit", the Dawnbringer stated, "Fenthick is a good man, he does not deserve death". "Well said, Shishi", the Drow woman agreed, "Let's prepare our speech for the trial".
"I'm with you, sister. And Daelan", Aysha turned to the man, "I think you should leave Neverwinter before the trial begins: if this doesn't work out and they turn on us, I'd rather not have you follow us to the afterlife". He hesitated, clearly conflicted, "I don't want to leave you in danger, Aysha. Come with me, leave the city". She shook her head with a soft smile, "I would if I could, but I must stay. Please, just…Just find a safe place to stay, away from all this death and fear and hatred polluting Neverwinter. I will rest more easily, knowing you're safe". "But my rest will be troubled by the knowledge that you are not", he countered, "Please, Aysha…".
"I'm sorry. Maybe we will meet again, if I survive and if the Gods will it", she took one of his big hands in hers and placed a small object in his palm: it was a beautiful, delicate golden pin shaped like a rose, with a fire opal in the centre, "I enchanted this with a blessing charm, it will shield you from harm for three hours, two times a day. Just a little thing so you won't forget about me", she added and his gaze softened. "I will never forget about you". "Nor I about you. Go now, pack your things and leave before they see you".
Daelan nodded reluctantly, "As you wish then. Farewell, Aysha and Li'daer. May the Gods protect you. I hope to see you again". "Farewell, Daelan. May Lathander's light always shine upon you". "And may Eilistraee guide your path", the Drow added, "Farewell and thank you for giving us both your assistance and the gift of you friendship". He bowed his head and left to pack his things and as soon as he was out of the room, Aysha's face fell. She would miss him dearly, but she would rather never see him again and know him alive, than keep him close and risk his life unnecessarily, "Let's get to work, Linlin". "You did the right thing, sister", Li'daer comforted her, "Who knows how the people will react to our attempt to defend Fenthick". "Not well at all, quite probably".
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The two women worked hard, spending all day writing and revising, until they deemed the final product to be good enough for the court. They also agreed not to mention Daelan's involvement with the mission, to avoid endangering him: best case scenario, he would not get the glory for all he had done to save the city, but if things went south, at least he would not be hunted down as an accomplice of Deshter. They then talked to Lord Nasher himself, asking to be assigned to Fenthick's defense and though reluctantly, the lord of Neverwinter at length agreed with their request.
So now they stood before the court, Li'daer wearing her enchanted armor and Aysha dressed in her ceremonial Dawnbringer robes, waiting anxiously for their turn to speak while the prosecutor went on and on about how Fenthick had caused the city's downfall and labeling the man a traitor just as much as Deshter. Aysha was seething, she hated liars and she hated even more to see an innocent falsely accused, but she managed to keep her peace. Finally, lord Nasher gestured to the two women and Li'daer cleared her throat, squaring her shoulders and rising her chin slightly.
"Lord Nasher and good people of Neverwinter", she began, "My name is Li'daer Zauvirr and I am here today as the defense attorney of Fenthick Moss. Many of you are likely already familiar with my name: I, together with my trusted companion Aysha Scarlet, found the ingredients needed to create the cure for the Wailing Death. We put an end to the infestation of undead in the Beggar's Nest.
We purged the Peninsula District of the criminals escaped from the prison. We cleared the Blacklake District of the undead lurking there and convinced Meldanen to share his secret hoarding of food with the starving citizens. We hunted down Deshter and brought the cure back to you, putting an end once and for all to the Wailing Death and saving your lives. And now, there is one more life that must be saved: that of Fenthick Moss".
Some citizens booed at that, but lord Nasher gestured for silence and everyone quieted, allowing her to continue. "I know you are angry. I know you desire vengeance. You suffered much and lost even more to the plague and I understand your rage: you want someone to blame for all that you had to go through. It's normal to feel like this. But Fenthick Moss is not guilty of treason, nor of negligence and I can say this with utmost certainty because, during our mission, Aysha and I worked with him and he gave us all the support he could to ensure our success and that we could find the cure to save you all".
There were a few murmurs among the crowd, nothing discernible, yet from the tone they seemed more curious than enraged now. Encouraged by this, Li'daer went on, "Another fact that proves Fenthick's innocence in the spreading of the plague is that Aysha and I discovered many a clue about a secret cult linked to it, a cult called 'People of the Eye'. We brought all the evidence we found to Fenthick and he immediately set to investigate on it, for his only goal was to help his city and his people and to stop those who wished to harm you. Deshter tried many times to dissuade him from this hunt, yet Fenthick never wavered in his purpose, because he is and always has been loyal to Neverwinter and to you all".
"He always defended the traitor!", a woman dressed in rags cried, pointing an accusing finger at Fenthick. "He did, but always in good faith. At the end of the day, Fenthick Moss is just a man: he, like you, was scared and needed someone to believe in. What the prosecutor calls negligence, I call desperation and a deep need of hope. When Deshter came to Neverwinter offering his help and claiming to be a servant of the Great Watcher, how many of you thanked the Gods for his arrival? How many of you hoped that he would save us from the Wailing Death?", she asked and to her surprise, many people actually raised their hands in response.
"Fenthick did the same. He was tricked, he placed his trust in someone he considered a friend and was betrayed in the most horrible way. He, like you, was just starved for hope in the darkest hour of our city. This is not treason. Trusting a false friend is not negligence. And Fenthick Moss is not a traitor, he is simply a man who placed his trust in the wrong person, something that we have all done at some point in our life. He does not deserve death, for he committed no crime.
Deshter is the person who deserves your hatred, his is the blood that must be shed as retribution for the losses you suffered. And I promise you this: his accomplices, those he worked for and who are equally responsible for bringing death and misery to our home, will pay with their lives as well. Aysha and I will hunt them down and we will not stop until each and every one of them has been sent to the afterlife!", she concluded, her voice rising to a shout on the final part and the people roared their approval, thrusting their fists high in the air. Her speech finished, she bowed her head and went back to stand at Aysha's side, waiting anxiously for the verdict.
Lord Nasher stood from his throne, looking regal in his dark blue tunic and trousers and with the long blue cape swirling around his ankles, "People of Neverwinter, I have listened to both the accuse and the defense and I have made my decision", he turned and looked first at Desher, grimacing, "Deshter Indelayne, you have been found guilty of treason, of bringing the Wailing Death to our city and of having caused the death of hundreds of innocents citizens. For your crimes against the people of Neverwinter, you are sentenced to death: you will be burned at the stake in the main square at sunset". The crowd shouted approvingly, for they all hungered for his death.
The lord then turned to Fenthick and his features softened, "Fenthick Moss, you have been a loyal and trusted assistant during these last years and as the lady Li'daer has correctly pointed out, you have worked hard alongside the heroines of Neverwinter to find a cure for the Wailing Death. You have therefore been found innocent and you are cleared of all the accusations. You are free to go". Aysha shot a look at the crowd, afraid that they would rebel at any moment, yet her tension dissolved when they clapped their hands, satisfied with the verdict. They had someone to blame for the plague and the promise that all the others involved would die, so they were willing to give Fenthick the benefit of doubt and let him go scot-free.
Fenthick was stunned, his eyes wide as saucers as a guard unlocked his cuffs and bowed to him, even addressing him as 'lord Moss' as if nothing had ever happened and when the reality of what had just transpired sank in, his heart sang with joy, "I…I am free! I will not die!", he whispered, tears of happiness wetting his cheeks, "Thank you, Li'daer, thank you so much! Without you, I would have been hanged or worse". The Drow woman smiled, "You're most welcome, but I can't take all the credit: Aysha here helped me with the speech". "Then you bear my gratitude as well, Aysha", he bowed his head to the Dawnbringer, who nodded in response. "My pleasure. I couldn't watch another innocent die because of Deshter's actions".
He opened his mouth to speak, when a joyous voice cut him off. "Fenthick!", Aribeth ran to him and flung her arms around his neck, holding him close without a care to who would see, "Oh, my love, I'm so happy…I was so afraid that they would condemn you…". "I know, beloved, so was I. Don't cry now, I'm here and I won't leave you, not now, nor ever". The Tyrran dried her cheeks and beamed at the two women behind him, "Thank you, both of you: first you saved the city and now my fiancée…You truly are heroines. I will never be able to repay you for this".
"Your happiness is more than payment enough for us, my lady", Aysha said, bowing, "We were glad to be of assistance once more and we are always at your service and at that of the people of Neverwinter". "I knew I made the right choice when I chose you two", Aribeth said, "But wasn't there another with you, when last we spoke? A Half-Orc, if I recall correctly?". The Dawnbringer flinched and Li'daer spoke up to spare her the pain. "Yes, Daelan of the Red Tiger tribe. He left yesterday, he wanted to search for fortune elsewhere, since we had no need for his services anymore". "Oh. A shame, I'm sure he would have appreciated the celebrations of tomorrow in your honor".
Li'daer and Aysha shared a stunned look at those words. "Celebrations?", the Drow asked. "In our honor?", the human echoed. "Of course, you found the traitor and brought the cure back to us, you are heroes to the city. And I will make sure that the name of Daelan of the Red Tiger tribe is remembered as well". "Thank you, lady Aribeth. This…This means much to me", Aysha said, swallowing her tears and wishing Daelan were there to take part to the celebrations at her side. At least the bards would compose ballads on all three of them, so he would still get the glory after all. Little did she know that their paths would cross again soon.
THE END