AN: Yeah… We've already established that I don't update particularly quickly and I've actually got a chapter for one of my Eragon fanfics half finished so I should really be updating that but oh well, I'm doing this now.
Disclaimer: I don't own GoT but I do own the plot!
Isabel
This time, I am given a tunic – with the coveted gold sash – before I run to join the others in the circular chamber the tribunal initiations are always held in. I bet I'm the last one to arrive. I'm really late; I couldn't get to sleep.
Sure enough, I am the last one there. All eyes are on me as I settle on my stool. I manage to drag mine off my feet for long enough to notice that Dartemis is here in the place of Lorian. As brothers, they are so alike that at first I didn't notice, but Dartemis looks strangely out of place at the head of the circle even though the tribunal are obviously happy enough that he's there.
He doesn't stand up to speak like Lorian would have done. It seems that no matter how alike they may look, they do not share the same personality.
"My brother will not be with us today but he has entrusted me with a set of instructions for you," he explains, awkwardly. "The thing you must understand is that this will be the most important thing you have ever done – and ever will do for some of you here – and definitely the most important and most dangerous thing I ever do. For Lorian, I am not quite so sure but this will be difficult." He takes a breath. "I must confirm before I begin that all of you will commit to this new mission. If you do not wish to participate, you will not be stripped of your memories but I warn you, the prophecy is likely to drag us all into it somehow – even the most strong-willed and powerful of us. Will you commit yourselves to the fulfilment of the new prophecy – the defeat of Lathenia and all other evils?"
Lady Arabella cuts in, "What do you mean by the term 'all other evils'?"
Dartemis makes no move to hide his surprise. "My dear lady Arabella, I did expect you of all people to have doubts!" he admits.
Lady Arabella smiles. "You know me better than to believe that. I am committed to seeing this through to the very end. I am merely curious. Humour me."
The tribunal definitely act differently toward Dartemis – less formally. They do not treat him as a leader.
"The truth is that I am not sure what else we will be facing yet." He shudders. "I get the feeling that it is unmistakably evil, more so than Lathenia, and that it is getting closer. Lorian knows more than I. He keeps it hidden but I know he knows something important. If he drops his guard even slightly, I will find out what he has hidden. I suspect he has worked out some of the prophecy. That was what he was doing when I tried to get under his guard earlier."
He clears his throat. "If any of you object to facing these evils, you must speak up now or I will assume you are committed to our cause."
For a long moment, silence reigns.
Dartemis breaks the silence, looking pleased. "Good. I see my brother chooses his elite well. Dillon, Neriah, my brother will organise your initiations for a soon as possible." His vibrant eyes lock onto Matt. "Matthew, do you remember the heavenly realm?"
Matt nods but doesn't speak.
"You will be leading a group on a mission there. Lady Arabella will brief you early tomorrow morning. Your group will consist of Rochelle, Ethan and Dillon. You must all converge by the lakeside at nine o'clock in the morning, earth time," Dartemis announces, turning his attention to Arkarian. "Arkarian, you will lead the group of Isabel and Neriah to the underworld. I will be briefing you at the end of this meeting if you will stay behind."
"I will," Arkarian agrees.
Dartemis' smile widens. "Shaun and Jimmy will spend the day draining and repairing the city of Veridian, which leads us to Marcus Carter." He turns his head to get a better view of where Mr Carter sits between Shaun and Jimmy. The smile is gone from his face. "You too will remain behind. Lorian wishes to talk with you. Before you ask, I do not know the reason, only that you are to wait for his return if he does not arrive before the end of this meeting." He regards the tribunal members around him for a moment. "Do any of the tribunal have anything to add?"
There is a moment of silence before the door swings open and Lorian steps through, looking absolutely furious. His expression calms as he sees that the Named and Dartemis are present.
"I have-" Dartemis begins.
Lorian interrupts, "I know." With that, he beckons to Mr Carter. "Join me in the circle, Marcus."
Mr Carter obeys, coming to a few feet away from the immortal's furious gaze. "My lord," he greets, inclining his head, respectfully.
Lorian produced a stool, commanding Mr Carter to use it. Once seated, Mr Carter keeps his eyes to the ground. Lorian stalks around him.
"Have you any idea why I have called you out here?" he enquires, coldly.
"Could it be because of recklessness at the school? I am sorry, my lord, but it was worth it knowing I had saved lives. I though I was discreet."
"You have been discreet," the immortal snaps. "Other than that, have you any other ideas why you are here?"
He shakes his head. "No, my lord," he answers meekly.
"Then shall I tell you?"
Mr Carter hesitates. "Yes, my lord," he decides.
"You are not wondering what you could have done wrong in many years of faithful service as you should be, as Shaun or Jimmy would be, no you are wondering if I've figured out your little secret. Did you really think that I would not see straight through you?"
Mr Carter remains silently shaking with fear, under the immortal's intense interrogation. The immortal lunges forwards so that his face is only centimetres away from Mr Carter's.
"Answer me!" he demands, in the closest thing to a shout I have ever heard him use.
"I-I don't know what you m-mean, my lord," Mr Carter stammers.
I recognise disgust under the anger in Lorian's voice. "And still you lie! How long did you honestly expect to last under my nose? How long did you expect me to leave you alive once I found out?"
"I… I…" Mr Carter is beyond speech with fear.
"Now you're asking yourself how long I have known what you are. I will tell you. I have known since I first initiated you that you are not what you seem to be. I supplied you with false information, leaving just enough of the truth that you would not be killed. You bought me more time with your false spying. I used it to win missions we may not have usually managed, but I have no need of you now and since you did not change your ways in the time I so graciously allowed you, it is time for you to be exposed as what you really are. Anything you wish to admit to? Confess now and I may be a little more lenient."
"I-I… I'm sorry, my lord! She made me do it! She threatened me! She said she was going to kill my family if I didn't agree! Please," Mr Carter begs. "Please don't kill me! I'll do anything, my lord! Anything!"
"I take it you know the penalty for betraying the Guard?" Lorian questions coolly.
"Don't kill me! Please!" Mr Carter pleads, sobbing.
"You are a traitor. Be thankful I have shown you the mercy of speaking with you before we judge you," Lorian states, turning to the two circles of people. "Marcus Carter, the man you have all trusted and accepted as a member of your team, is a traitor! This man is a spy for the Goddess of Chaos! And he will be punished!"
But I trusted Mr Carter! We all trusted Mr Carter! We thought he was a hero! All this time, I've been talking to, working with, and being friendly to a traitor! Ethan always said he had a bad feeling about Mr Carter and with his instincts, I should have believed him.
"But- but what about my trial?" Mr Carter asks.
Lorian turns to his tribunal. "Having seen the evidence with your own eyes, do any of you disagree that Marcus Carter is guilty of breaking his vows and double crossing the Guard and those in it?"
"No, my lord," is the unanimous verdict.
"There, your trial is complete," Lorian announces. "It is time for your punishment."
Mr Carter throws himself on the floor at the immortal's feet, tears streaming down his cheeks and pleas flowing out of his mouth. "Please! Please don't kill me! Please!"
Lorian takes a step back, away from the trembling heap at his feet. "I would have thought my sister would choose her spies to have a spine, or at least some degree of intelligence. I will not pity you. Your punishment will be no less for your begging. Now rise and take your seat."
Mr Carter does as Lorian commands but does not try to look at him.
The immortal places his hinds on either side of Mr Carter's head. "I am not going to kill you," he states. "No, the punishment you are about to receive will be much worse. After you have been punished, you will be locked in a cell here for such a time as I see fit that you have learnt the lesson I am trying to teach you. After that, I will decided if I am going to wipe your memories or strip you beck to apprentice status or otherwise." He turns to his tribunal. "Does that seem a fair punishment to you?"
The tribunal all agree vocally. I agree silently while Dillon blurts out, "What if he turns against us again?"
"He will not," Lorian answers. "But if he did then he would be an enemy and I would not hesitate to kill him." He turns his attention to Mr Carter. "I give you the gift of enlightenment."
Blue light crackles like electricity as it jumps from Lorian's hands into Mr Carter, cries out in pain. Lorian steps back as he starts to writhe on the floor screaming.
"Lorian!" Dartemis calls out, horrified.
"I merely let him know what we have been through in this war and what we are fighting for," Lorian explains. "The truth hurts."
Dartemis says something in that weird language he and Lorian both know but we don't. A mixture of emotions are in his voice. I recognise regret, grief and admiration with the possibility of something else thrown in there too.
Lorian waves the comment away with his hand, regarding his remaining nine Named. "I trust you all know where you are meeting tomorrow?" he enquires, pausing as we all nod; everyone except Dillon is speechless after what just happened with Mr Carter. "Good. This meeting is over."
He waves his hand again and the feeling of transportation kicks in.
I wonder what we're in for tomorrow before I am once again asleep in my own bed.
AN: I know this is a really bad chapter but all the action starts next chapter and I needed Mr Carter to be found out in this chapter for it to work. Next chapter, we find out about the mission and the prophecy starts to unfold… Gradually…
Thanks to all my reviewers! You people rock my socks!
REVIEW REPLIES! (Yeah, I've actually put some in for chapter 3!)
Sadie193 – Yeah, Jimothy can be seriously annoying at times!
2lazy2login – Thanks! Sorry about the wait and the poor quality of this chapter…
Lunalux – Thank you! Ah, you'll have to wait and see about the grey haired lady… Same for Neriah… but they're good guesses! When I do the chapters things are revealed in, you may have won a cookie… Watch this space… And again, sorry for the wait!
If you're reading this, please review! Reviews make my day and make me update quicker!