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"You stand before the court of three to see whether you should live, or whether you should die." The tall man who was sat on the highest chair said. He had a dark beard and a tall blue hat that matched his robes. "Do you understand?"

"Oh I understand," Jerome hissed, sat in the centre for all to see. On the left of him, were the Dwarves, everyone minus Mick. Mara sat on his right, a chain around her wrists, and robes covering everything but her eyes. People would recognise the Princess of the wealthiest village of all. "You want to kill a man for a crime he didn't commit."

"We have proof against you, Jerome!" Fabian called out. Jerome scoffed, rolling his eyes, tilting his head back, and he thought for a moment.

"You've got nothing." He said confidently. Fabian turned to look at the judge, eyes questioning. The judge nodded a yes to the brunettes unvoiced question. Fabian walked over to Jerome, and took his back, unloading everything onto the table. Among the many various contents, Fabian found what he was looking for. He picked up the gold crown, Mara's gold crown.

"You're a thief," he announced, turning to show the judge who's wrinkled eyes widened. And flames of anger sparked in them.

"I was framed!" Jerome cried, worried now, he didn't steal the crown, but he was not so foolish as to know this made him look very bad "I swear to you! I swear I was framed!"

"Oh give it up!" Eddie yelled "Make the sentence easier and just admit it!"

"Don't drag this out," Nina shook her head

"I swear!"

"ENOUGH!" the judge called, truly angry "You, Jerome Clarke! Are sentenced to death! You will-"

"No," Mick called out "I have one last declaration. If Jerome believes that someone came in and framed him, then I say we give him ten days, and just ten days to track down that person and bring back them gem. Take me in his place."

Everyone's gasp was audible.

"Mick!" Fabian cried "You can't! He'll just run away and never come back! You'll be killed! He doesn't care about you!"

Mick turned to look at Jerome, right in the eyes "I…believe in him. If Jerome says he didn't do it, then he didn't do it. I say, take me in his place,"

"Young man," the tall judge said, the first sign of pity evident in his eyes "You realise, that if Jerome does not come back within the ten days, you…will be exiled in his place."

Jerome watched Mick with wide blue eyes, his hair spiky and scruffy, Mick kept his eyes on Jerome, and with sad but determined look whispered "I understand,"

"Mick what are you doing?" Jerome called, as the handcuffs were taken off of his hands, and he rubbed the sore skin "Please, don't do this! What if I don't find the culprit?"

Mick held his hands out to be chained, and although the guards were more gentle with him, the metal was biting into his soft flesh "I believe in you, Jerome," he nodded, before being led off. Jerome watched him. What was this? Was this some sort of trick? Some sort of reverse psychology on the brain? Weird mind tricks so that Jerome would just admit to it now? Well it wasn't going to work. But wait, Jerome didn't want Mick to die in his place…especially since he had taken his place. There was too much pressure. He didn't even have a clue as to who had taken it.

He turned away, not wanting to see Mick get dragged out of the doors. To see Joy untying Mara and shoving her out of a back door.

That was it then wasn't it. He was going to have to find the culprit, save Mick, find the princess a new home and prove his innocence. Simple. He shoved everything back in his bag and swung it over his shoulder, about to follow Mara, when someone shook his arm. Jerome didn't turn around

"If he dies…because of you," Joy hissed "I'll make sure you die right along with him."

"…U-understood."

Line Break

"I can't believe this," Mara shook her head, still in the dark blue robes that covered everything but her eyes, still not able to be recognised. She and Jerome's horses had now been tied together, so they walked by each other and wouldn't get lost. Jerome turned to her slightly, thankful for the fact of all her clothes. She could make this less distracting…but still…those eyes.

"What?" he asked, the sun beating down on them.

"He stood up for you," she sighed "How kind,"

Jerome swallowed, a sour feeling taking over. Great, this was just what he needed. "Yeah, its super." He looked around, subconsciously they were heading back for the Kingdom, that was where the number of Jerome's enemies were.

"So…how are you going to find this thief?"

The Huntsman kept his eyes forward. "We're not going to find the culprit, Princess."

"What?"

"I'm taking you to the next village, and then I'm leaving." Jerome did not expect Mara to turn sharply and whack the side of his head.

"Are you out of your mind?!" she cried loudly, his face hardened as an automatic defence mechanism. "Y-you're not serious? Tell me you're joking! You're not going to let him die!"

"This really isn't your concern."

"Jerome," and the way she said his name made him turn his head, she had pulled the bottom of the cloth down so that you could see her whole face. "You're not serious,"

Jerome watched her, and he gave in. He gave in for a girl, his blue eyes glistening in the sunlight. "No," he whispered hoarsely "I'm kidding, of course I'm going to find them, of course I'm going to save him," and it was all worth it, just to see the smile on Mara's face.

"And I can help with funding." She said, digging her hand into her pocket, revealing a small hand sized bag, and she opened it up, tipping it into Jerome's hands. A dozen pink gems and orange topazes, sky blue sapphires and blood red rubies.

Jerome's eyes widened, he'd never seen so much money in the same place "Wow….nicely done, Princess."

Sorry it's been so long, school work is killing me

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