Summary: Movieverse, post twitches II, Aron/Miranda, angst, continuation.
Disclaimer: I do not own this. If I did, it would not be a kid's movie. This is not a kid's story. I have not read the books and do not intend to because I like messing with the movie characters. The books may well be better than the movies, but since it's the movies' faults and inaccuracies that inspire my subplots… being too correct would destroy my material.
"Here," she says quickly, back in their rooms, "Lie down." She lets go of his arm and hurries to rummage in a cabinet.
Suddenly lightheaded, Aron sways for a few steps and then literarily falls into bed. However, he misjudges the distance and hits the wooden floor instead, clipping his forehead on the bedpost as he falls.
Miranda gasps and drops whatever she is holding. The delicate vials shatter on the floor. Immediately, she runs to him and, cradling his injured head, lifts him into bed.
"I'm a fool," She mutters angrily, "I should have thought of this, days ago."
"Thought of what?" he manages, although feeling tempted to simply allow himself to pass out. The dizziness is nearly unbearable, approaching pain by sheer intensity. The room spins.
"The transmutation's caught up with you. You'll be fine, but you need medicine now." She gestures sharply to open the cabinets and again forcing a bottle of something to fly to her hand, "Drink this." She orders and she eases the bottle to his lips, tilting his head back to assist him.
As the cold liquid slides down his throat, Aron feels the world lurch and dissolve into fragments of gold and red. The last things he sees are the strange patterns of light, reflecting off Miranda's beautiful hair.
"Ugh" He groans as he slowly comes to himself. Everything aches.
Miranda bends over him, lying next to him on the bed, "There you go my love," she whispers, gently caressing his face, "You're back."
He manages a question. "Where am I?"
"You're in our bed," She whispers, "You passed out."
Oh, of course, he knows that. "What… what time is it?"
"It is a few hours past midday." She clarifies. "You need medicine." She tilts his head back, so he can swallow another vial of the strange and bitter liquid.
"The… the council…"
"They don't know." Miranda says and he finds he cannot read her eyes. "I brought Este here in secret. She says you need to drink the medicine every hour. You'll start feeling better by sundown."
"I'll have to… tomorrow I must…" he mutters.
"You'll even be on your feet for the dinner tomorrow." Miranda says affectionately "Good as new in fact. The medicine for this works near miracles." She lightly kisses his forehead, "Sleep now, my love." The world starts to darken again, "Sleep now."
He comes awake to the sounds of loud voices.
"He cannot, Councilman Angellum" He hears Miranda say wearily, "Perhaps later tonight but… not now… please."
The old man in formal robes shakes his head dourly, "I am required to deliver the decision of the inquiry now, not later this evening." Aron notices several other people standing behind him, similarly robed, and recognizes a few as the other council members.
"But must he stand?" Miranda implores.
Councilman Angellum looks confused, "That is…err… how things are done."
"I know…. But… surely… the law does not require him to stand."
"Only procedure," one of the other councilmen cuts in, "Can't you see he's ill? Get on with it, Bartram, or I will."
"Fine," the politician mutters angrily. Adopting a formal tone, he addresses "Aron Du Baer, you stand…err… lie… accused of manslaughter of Thantos Du Baer." He pauses…. "The inquiry has cleared you of any wrongdoing in the death of your brother, Thantos Du Baer. Do you understand me?"
"Yes councilman Angellum," Aron manages to croak.
Angellum nods and turns to Miranda "Miranda Du Baer, I assume you, at least, will stand to receive judgment."
She nods and smoothly rises.
"Miranda Du Baer, you stand accused of treason, bigamy, adultery against Aron Du Baer, attempted murder, unconstitutional acts, theft of powers, and conspiracy." Angellum reads from a paper.
"They have no authority over you," Aron hears someone interrupt. He is shocked to see Adelais, standing in a corner but realizes she must have already been present when the council entered the room.
"Be quiet, Adelais," Miranda scolds between her teeth.
"They don't." The novice healer reiterates steadfastly.
"The act that removed that authority is unconstitutional and illegal. It was enacted by a monarch acting in bad faith and ruling unlawfully." Miranda states formally and sternly. "I won't hide behind one of Thanto's laws. If there is any confusion on the matter, I hereby reinstate the judicial power of the council over me."
The chamber erupts in whispers. "These are capital offences, Your Grace." Adelais interjects in distress.
"I know." Miranda answers with resolve, "And should the council deem me guilty of any of them, I will submit to whatever punishment they consider fit."
Aron gasps in horror, as the full implication of the inquiry occurs to him. There had never been any doubt that he would be acquitted, after all no one doubted that Thantos had been trying to kill him, but Miranda's case was far less certain. He had not realized, though he certainly should have know how serious the case was, that Miranda could die for this. Aron understands now that the entire inquiry was her trial, not his.
The councilman takes a deep breath, "Miranda Du Baer, we find that you were legally unable to consent to your marriage with Thantos Du Baer by reasons of coercion and ignorance. We therefore find that marriage illegal and void. We rule, therefore, that your marriage with King Aron Du Baer never lapsed."
Miranda nods, her eyes sharp and intelligent as she scans the council's faces. Aron can only swallow nervously.
"We further find during the reign of the usurper Thantos Du Baer, your status was that of a prisoner of war. We find that you were kept in fear for the safety of your kingdom and of violence to yourself and that that your participation in the political acts of said Thantos Du Baer was under compulsion and involuntary."
Miranda draws a slow breath and nods again.
"We further find that you were unaware of the full extent of the treason employed by Thantos Du Baer, and that where you could you sought to protect and save this country."
"We further," The Councilman Angellum cuts off for a moment and swallows, biting his lip. "We further find" He goes on hoarsely, "We… we find that you never consented to any sexual act with the late Thantos Du Baer, except under extreme coercion and fear for your life and…and the lives of others, and that his actions towards your person amounted to… amounted to rape and torture."
Miranda's eyes go wide, but she manages a nod.
"We therefore clear you of all wrongdoing regarding the abovementioned charges."
Aron can breathe again.
"Finally, we commend you for your heroism during that desperate time. We recognize that you… that you did not seek help because you believed it would endanger the lives of others or the safety of Coventry. We further recognize that you oftentimes took considerable pain upon yourself, rather than see it inflicted upon others. We… we do not believe we would be standing here today, had you acted otherwise. You have our gratitude, Your Grace."
"Thank you" Miranda replies formally, and Aron can hear shock in her voice.
Councilman Angellum puts the paper down and says softly, "May I say something additional, your Grace?"
"Of course," She replies.
"I… I would like to apologize. We… we all knew what he was doing to you… and we as good as gave him permission to do it. We should have stopped him. I am… so… so sorry."
"Well you were afraid of what he would do if you tried." She says softly, sounding almost confused, "We all were. The defenses were the most important thing I understand that."
The other council members, some looking annoyed, some abashed, sheepishly make their way to the door.
Councilman Angellum looks over his shoulder as he passes through the doorway "If there's anything I can do, Your Grace…?"
"Forget it ever happened, councilman." She answers.