- The Verdict

The judge came out and stood before the court on the step stool that allowed everyone to see him over the judge's bench. The bright colors and feathers of his ceremonial garb bright against the backdrop of the yellow and purple Coronaian banner.

"When I had come to this kingdom to study the laws of your fair land I had no idea I would end up here, to aid this kingdom." He gestured to the courtroom.

"This has been the most emotionally powerful trials I have ever had to preside over. In my home kingdom, I know that the victims would have shown no mercy to the perpetrator of an act as heinous as this. An act like this would have sparked a blood feud to last a thousand generations. The full might of justice would have been brought down on the head of the perpetrator."

"Yet, here, the victims have offered mercy and forgiveness to the perpetrator. An act that I would have considered weak and cowardly not long ago. But that I now know to be an act of such strength and courage, the likes of which I had never known before."

Ota held out his arms, "People of Corona! You have a great king and queen, more then worthy of the great love you have shown them all these years, and you are worthy of them!"

"Still, a crime was committed and justice must be served. A crime of this magnitude would be generally be punished by death by hanging, though this particular crime had a royal decree specifying the punishment the queen would have meted out." He called forth the victims and the perpetrator.

The queen was looking embarrassed hoping the judge wouldn't announce what she had planned on doing, she didn't desire it any more.

Rapunzel was looking worried, she didn't want Mother to die.

Gothel looked resigned to whatever came to her, she knew she deserved anything and everything they would or could mete out to her.

"It is proposed that the perpetrator serve 18 years under house arrest, in the palace, under the care of the king and queen, continuing as a ward of the crown. Is justice served by this?" The judge asked the royal family.

Rapunzel asked, "What's house arrest?"

The judge explained, "She will have to stay in the palace and never leave it for the next 18 years or she will be put to death."

Rapunzel nodded. It would be much like being in the tower, though she would be the one leaving and returning and caring for Mother.

The king and queen exchanged a long look and nodded. Gothel was a ward of their kingdom and they would take care of her and the punishment matched the crime.

"Justice is served by this," intoned the king.

"Is mercy served by this?" The judge asked Gothel.

Gothel was feeling a wonder and amazement in her heart. She didn't know what to do with herself now that she had accepted the Jonathan wasn't coming back. Maybe life was still worth living for its own sake. But eighteen years would give her time to think about it.

"Mercy is more then served by this, thank you," said Gothel.

"Very well. Judgement is made." The gavel rang out.