Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess

Author's Note:

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ XCVIII: Xena's Trial ~

~ Part I ~

Mirkwood, 3019 TA, June 1st

The order was set and accepted; Xena was handcuffed by the Guards and taken to the Court in the main halls where the meeting was taking place. Surprisingly how the king had already organized the defence system, the legal system, and even his Halls. Entire generations had lived during an era of wars. His generation grew up in a chaotic Mirkwood, in a complete mess.

Now finally, the actions that divided Mirkwood had faded into legend. The last of the enemies that tried to bring Mirkwood to his doom was gone and Xena was brought today to face the law and answer for her crimes. The court rose stronger in this new era, old and new alliances being formed, and all having a say in this trial.

Any ceremony didn't yet honour the great heroes and those who had fallen, but the Elvenking had already set a date after the trial. The court was slowly filled with the majority of the observers, most of them among the enormous numbers of citizens who had served from the wrath of the dark lord; they travelled to witness the trial. The Council represented Mirkwood, Erborn and Dale. Thranduil had allowed it believing that it would bring more favours in the name of Xena.

The jury consisted of eight individuals familiar with the Common Law and Judge-made Law, and they would judge the case, and their decision counted as one vote. The majority of the votes were given to a few of the councils. They were given the authority to attend trials that were appealed in court, and the Elvenking was the highest in the hierarchy. That meant that Thranduil would have the convict's final vote, and he would have the authority to cast two votes.

Xena was allowed to clean up and wore her armour, Thranduil believed it would make her feel better inside the leather armour as it was part of her skin. Arwen remained by her side aiding her to get dressed, and whispering her words of hope. The twins could not accept what was happening to their younger sister. And had caused already two times a scene and were dragged outside the court.

The guards led her through the mesmerizing and wooden corridors built with a hard metamorphic form of limestone, typically white with mottlings or streaks of colour, that was polished and designed in modern and retro architecture. The chamber was newly built; Xena could still smell the combination of the entire mixture of wood and stone "evaporating" from new flooring, wood, and other building materials.

'Her trial would be the opening of the newly built Court.' she laughed at the irony, but it somehow boosted her ego. By entering the courtroom, Xena noted that it was enormous. In front of her were three levels of seats. At the lowest level was set the Council, with Tauriel, Brad II and Glóin sitting on the right. Above them, a few of the high counsellors elected to be part of the trial, and above them was a central seat, where the Elvenking sat. The jury occupied eight seats; west were their seats, a desk, covered folders, paperwork, and documents. There the prosecutors would sit.

In a square desk, Southeast was Xena seated, cuffed against the desk that was in front of her. Next to him were supposed to establish his attorneys, but Xena never asked for anyone. She had fought with Aragorn and Gimli about the matter many times. But her answer was always negative. She firmly believed she didn't need an attorney since she would not oppose the charges delivered to her.

In the middle of the court was assigned around footing for the witnesses to take a stand. And South behind the court structure seats for the public. The seats were already filled; in the first row, Xena watched as her family and friends sat there. The rest were new faces, angry faces; she was sure most of them had crossed paths with Amethyst and were there to see Xena pay for killing her.

Xena and Elrond exchanged a few gazes, though none spoke. They already had talked about the trial so many times. Elrond's emotions were overwhelming, asking Xena to fight against her charges. She hated that she was the cause of that, but this was her trial now. She would see it through, whatever the consequences. She asked for her father one more time to remain calm and be next to her before the trial started.

The guards slowly sealed the wooden doors, and the trial was about to begin. Silence dropped suddenly all over the place as Thranduil gestured for the beginning of the trial. "I stand before you today not only as a King but also as someone who witnessed part of the events," his voice rang out, clear and robust, "Today we are gathered here inside the Court to bring the end of an era of war, hate and conflict. This should be a valuable lesson for us and the next generation, not to repeat the same mistakes. And I hope with this trial, the end of Evil times of the entire Middle Earth, has come to an end."

He spoke as everyone was taking their seats and paying attention to the strong king sitting in the middle of the courtroom. His attire was a combination of royal silk robes, of grey and black, his hair was straight and long, and his face looked dark and severe.

"The trial with the case of the murder of Princess Amethyst and Prince Legolas begins. Defendant, please rise, state your name, and year of birth for a brief overview for the opening statement." the Elvenking asked, gazing at the accuser.

She wished to say Xena from Amphipolis but that would only upset the court so she answered "Rawen Aduialeth[Second-Twilight], known as Xena, born 2510 T.A." a hush fell over the crowd at the mention of the name and year of birth, because it was then only when most figured out that she was not human, but an elf. Xena pretended not to notice. She listened to the whispers around her name, and a shiver overtook her, and the angry crowd won her attention.

"Order!" came the Elvenking's voice brutally and loud, bringing silence at once all over the courtroom. "Defender, you stand before the Court today accused of treason, various numbers of murders of Princess Amethyst and Prince Legolas. How does the Defender plead?"

"Guilty," Xena said coldly. The truth crushed her, it left her incapable of everything. For days now, every night, she relived the moments of her crimes, and the only one that made her fall in despair was her foolishness to throw Legolas inside the river. She believed that Legolas would make it. She had seen him and knew that she could not be dead. But Legolas was never found, and she was now judged for pushing him into the river.

Gimli cast a glance against Xena and sighed. His friend wouldn't take things easy; he already knew it. Today he would bring Xena to his doom, and although she deserved it of older crimes she had committed in another world, in this world she should not be in that position. This was not fair.

Xena's dizziness became stronger. For days she was feeling sick, dizzy, and from time to time ready to throw up. At that moment, though, she felt as if someone had pierced her with a sword in her gut. She always believed that her formal life was worse, but today she has come to the assumption that this was not any better.

"It is not required that you have an attorney; do you have chosen one? If not, the prosecution has the right to cross-examine you. Testimony should be restricted to facts about the charges against you. You may also present other witnesses at this time." the Elvenking requested.

"I haven't assigned an attorney," Xena responded.

"He didn't believe that he needed one!" Gimli backfired in a bitter tone as he still couldn't accept that Xena wouldn't want someone to aid her through this trial.

"Master Gimli, I would prefer If you kept your personal opinions out of this courtroom!" the Elvenking said and continued, "Xena, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. As the defendant, you are not required to present evidence at the trial because of the innocence presumption. Your option not to request an attorney is Sustained! The prosecution has the burden of proof to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the prosecution must present evidence at the trial. Failure to appear for trial may result in dismissal. The prosecution might proceed."

A blond-haired elf maiden stood up, presenting the evidence before she walked towards Xena; she seemed to be the prosecution team's head. Her name was Enwinawen, and she was known as one of the best prosecutors back in the day.

"Is it true that on the night of the return of Prince Legolas from the Battle of Gundabad, you met with Princess Amethyst?" she placed her first question.

"Y-yes I did," Xena said in a quiet voice; barely anyone could hear him. The crowd leaned in, scooting to the edge of their seats. Until now, Xena's voice was steady and loud, but bringing up the first case, had her recall how broken Legolas was.

"And is it true," Nakim continued, "that you were the one who took her life days after?"

"It's true," Xena verified as she closed her eyes, feeling no regret for taking her life. The room started to buzz with whispers.

"Order in my court," the Elvenking demanded.

"What was your relationship with the Princess," she asked next, almost enjoying stripping the truth out of Xena

Xena rubbed her hand against her face trying to calm down; this trial was way more complicated than she thought it would be. "None!" he answered.

"Can you please describe what happened?" the prosecutor went on, "Why would you kill her?"

The courtroom felt in silence, waiting for an answer. Gimli glared at Enwinawen, and Arwen forgot to breathe. Elrond's face had gotten paler, but he faced his fears and watched his daughter speak: "She broke what was mine! "

Enwinawen, skipped and leaned over to Xena "And did it work, did you fix what was yours?"

Xena shook her head as she was already torn apart. "No, It didn't! I lost him!"

"I have no further questions," Enwinawen, said, walking away from the stand with a massive smile on her face.

Her tears wouldn't roll down, and the screams wouldn't escape past her quivering lips. The hallucinations would come, of Legolas and how broken he was. She did the right thing, she had to kill Amethyst.

"Defendant to you wish to add anything, if not, the prosecution might continue to present the next crime," Thranduil advised as his full attention was won by the trial, as Enwinawen, had brought the case from zero to one hundred by only presenting the murder of Amethyst. The rest of the courtroom was also paying close attention now.

"I don't have anything further to add, my lord" Xena added, his tone low but steady.

"Now I would like to call my first witness to the stand, Master Gimli!" the prosecutor said. It took Gimli a moment to realize she was asking him. "Master Gimli, please!"

Gimli glared at her. "I never agreed to take the stand," he argued. And Xena gazed at Gimli and gestured to agree.

"You decline to take the stand?" Enwinawen quizzed.

"No, I decline to take the stand in favour of the prosecution!" Gimli clarified in determination. The crowd started whispering again at Gimli's reaction.

"Master Gimli, take the stand. It wasn't a question," the Elvenking requested. "Order!"

Gimli stood up, almost knocking his fists against the desk, and stepped down in front of the footing. He looked at Xena a few times; his friend already seemed beaten up but kept a calm face.

Enwinawen began, "When have you met the Defender for the first time?"

"In Rivendell," Gimli answered.

"Why was Lady Rawen there, and why were you?"

"We were there to inform Lord Elrond about the darkness that was growing in our lands, and what the dark lord had asked us. Xena was there after she was found and saved from an orc attack!" Gimli answered honestly.

Enwinawen walked over to the prosecutor's desk and took more evidence, and offered it to the court. "But she hails from Rivendell? Isn't she the younger daughter of Lord Elrond?"

Gimli hated her; he hated her. She was doing her job damn well; that's why he had said so many times to Xena to get an attorney so that people would find out not only her crimes but why she had to do them. "Not exactly!" Gimli hissed. Gimli narrated to them through the past, who she was and what had happened. By then most have found out that she was Lord Elrond's daughter and Gimli's as well.

"It's too late now, Master Gimli, after the crimes she has accomplished. Being related to Lord Elrond or not will not make any difference." the prosecutor offered, "Thank you, Master Gimli, that's all for now!"

"No wait," Gimli said, "There is more, you should know. Xena had fought in the great war."

"Take your seat, Master Gimli" the Elvenking demanded, "If the defendant wanted to state more, she should have assigned an attorney."

Gimli glared at Thranduil as he stepped down and walked back to his seat.

"Next," said Enwinawen "I call Prince Legolas to the stand."

Everyone in the room gasped and turned around. Even the Elvenking was surprised by what followed. He believed that his son was lost. Xena explained to him what had happened. She thought that perhaps losing his memory to the river would aid him. So the prince was lost to everyone and now how was it possible to be there.

The prosecutor looked over at Xena with a satisfying grin. He went pale as a ghost and sunk in her chair. It wasn't because Legolas would reveal more of her crimes, but Xena was taken back that Legolas was alive. She like everyone else wanted to see that it was really Legolas.

The court wooden doors opened and indeed, a tall very healed and cold Legolas walked inside the courtroom. He was holding an emotionless face but while passing through a familiar face he seemed to smile at them. It seemed that he remembered most of them, even the dwarf. Thranduil needed to stop the trial and ran to his son but could not. The rest just gazed at him confused.

"Prince Legolas, how are you related to the Defendant?"

People could grow strong enough to withstand anything and bend their will, like the craziest magic. That's what love could do: fix souls, fix brains, cure everyone. Xena wished she was mastered that way, but it was hard when she had watched Legolas suffering for so long. She sensed his pain, and day by day, it became part of her world as well. But she never believed what would follow would hurt her so much.

"I do not," Legolas said coldly "although it's said that I did."

"I see," there was a short pause, "and so you are connected to this story, how?"

"Again I cannot recall!" Legolas answered and gazed at her without any feelings for this human or elf maiden "I see her today for the first time. And I was told she kidnapped me and pushed me into the Enchanted River."

Enwinawen interrupted him. "I don't understand?"

"I am related to her," Legolas scoffed "And I cannot believe a maiden would be able to try and kidnap me. Have you looked at her, she can hardly balance herself!"

The crowd murmured uncomfortably as Legolas' truths started to become a bit awkward slowly. Xena bit back, throwing one curse after the other, she could simply stand up and kick his ass that would be proof enough of being able to kidnap the Mirkwood princess.

"Order inside the courtroom," the Elvenking demanded.

"We aren't base our case on if's, Prince Legolas," the Prosecutor corrected him.

Now the prince was angry and he showed "You want me to state, that I was taken from my bedchamber by force, and thrown in the River, by this maiden. Do you have a death wish! How dare you imply that the prince is unable to defend himself from a simply maiden."

Xena cursed too many times, yelling into her mind she glared deadly at Legolas and she would beat him up. She did not know when or who, but she would end up beating his sorry sexy ass.

"The witness should answer only the question without attitude," the Elvenking corrected his son. He could hide his need to welcome his son, but he could not make a fool of the court.

"Fair enough," said Enwinawen. "I will accept that. But you were there when she took the life of Princess Amathyst your wife-to-be."

"The what to be?" questioned Legolas smirking now at the prosecutor "Have you drawn mad, I do not have a mate. I am single."

"Of course not; we have here your signature on the document that the Princess has given the court" the prosecutor fought back.

"She did?" Legolas asked in bewilderment "Then she copied my signature because I would never end up wed with a Princess."

The courtroom went silent. Even the council had his eyes glued on him. The prosecutor didn't like it the prince's attitude nor his answers "Thank you, Prince Legolas, that is all for now."

After that, the Prosecutor went forth and back, presenting evidence after evidence. The accusations kept piling up, and Xena felt himself falling deeper into the darkness of her wrongdoings. But what brought her to her lower point was watching Legolas not recognizing her. At least he was alive and seemed like his old self.

"Defendant, do you agree with the Prosecutor's statement until now?" the Elvenking requested.

"I do!" she agreed.

"Lady Rawen of Imladris," came Thranduil's voice, "do you have any witnesses to call in your defence, or will you proceed with your statement?"

"No, I don't have anything further to say," Xena answered. The crowd was once again affected by her response, gasped, and others gossiped, Gimli glared at Xena, trying to get his attention to demand from her to defend herself, and Xena had reached her limits and fainted.

The courtroom was suddenly a chaotic mess, everyone was shouting and in they had to stop the trial and take a break. Xena was brought into her healing wards followed by Elrond and her siblings. And the rest went to Legolas to find out what had happened.

((Upcoming Chapter Ninety-Nine))

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