Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Once Upon a Time.
Author's Note: Wow. Two chapters in two days! I'm on a roll! Pray it continues :D
As always, R & R!
Regina stood, her façade of arrogance still prevailing over her features. "I plead guilty," she said with a cocky smile.
"That will not lighten your sentence, witch," said Midas from his seat at the bench.
"Midas, you shall remain silent unless otherwise directed. My dear, you won't receive any leniency if we go forward with sentencing and character witnesses. Do you understand?" said Armina.
"I understand," replied Regina coolly. "It's no use trying to prove I'm innocent, when I'm guilty."
"A wise decision, Regina," said Armina. "The council will now ask for testimony as to your character. Do you have anyone in particular who you would like to have speak on your behalf?"
For nearly three hours, Regina called witness after witness, many of them her old guards, who each spoke on her behalf. At last, she made her last choice.
"I would like to call her majesty the Queen of Beasts to testify," said Regina with an evil smirk.
Armina's jaw clenched, and her eyes grew dark with repressed anger. "So be it," she said through gritted teeth. She remained seated in her chair and said, "What would you like me to say?"
"Tell them about me," she said simply.
The Queen of Beasts gave her a look of challenge and spoke. "The Regina Mala has single-handedly killed thousands of innocent woodland creatures and beasts of human intelligence. She's killed unicorns, Pegasus, dragons, centaurs, fauns, goblins, ogres, and dwarves, among other things."
"Tell them what I did to your kind, your majesty," prodded Regina.
Armina's look of confidence faltered, her eyes giving off a haunted expression. She looked absolutely vulnerable, and she couldn't hide it. For the first time, she appeared to be struck silent. Andrew placed a hand on hers, and she somehow found the ability to speak again. She placed a manufactured smile to cover up her hurt pride. "Fine. The Evil Queen killed off the rest of my race. I'm the survivor."
"Why don't you tell the court what you are?" pressed Regina.
It was a marvel how her teeth remained intact with how hard she was pressing them together. "How about we get rid of these changes first, hmm?" said Armina, passing a hand in front of her face. Instantly, her eyes returned to their normal, ever-changing state. Her teeth regained their points, and her nails became claws once more.
"People of the Enchanted Forest, I am a shapeshifter. You might have thought me to be the usual sorceress. I am not, nor will I be, the normal witch you thought me to be. I am the last of my kind, thanks to our friend the Evil Queen. I watched as she killed my parents for my insubordination. She asked me to kill the King of the Ogres, and I didn't, so she killed my family in front of me. Is that satisfactory, Regina? I think so."
Regina looked satisfied with Armina's reaction. Even if it only painted Regina in a worse light, the Evil Queen seemed to revel in Armina's discomfort. She looked satisfied with the Queen of Beasts' reaction. "Thank you, your majesty," said Regina, sitting back more comfortably in her seat.
"Is that all then?" asked Armina, her body still tensed from Regina's questioning.
Regina nodded, much to Armina's relief.
"Shall we begin sentencing?" asked Andrew, releasing Armina's arm from his grip. The monarchs at the bench all agreed.
"Court will return after an hour recess," declared Armina as she swiftly stood from her chair and walked out with the others following her flowing robes. The spectators stood as they all left the ballroom.