Author's Note: Wow I hit an all-time low of 6 reviews for last chapter… was it really that bad? :( Anyway, hope this one is better.
Anyway, updated a little late. So, so, SO busy. So many interviews. And midterms. And assignments. And I joined like 4 clubs… sleep, oh sleep, where art thou sleep?
)HappyHam( - Aww, really? No faith in lil' Lenta?
)Fushiawase( - thank you for the input! And yea, I think I agree with you.
)ZBZ( - Yeaaaaaa…. No. Def. not because our lives are so "good"… :p Haha I read some they're hilarious! Have you seen 'Damnyouautocorrect'? Another really funny website… and shows the infinite wisdom of the iPhone…
)ayunli( - O.o don't be lacking sleep sweetie! Just out of curiosity how long does it take to read one of my chapters usually?
)BiskElle( - Well it was kind of what I was aiming for I guess? In my mind in the "olden days" the peasants aren't as educated… thus leading them to think more with their heart than their head. Although what you said about Eriol is true… hopefully this chapter will explain that. :)
)Vivace( - haha, when I read "things really picked up in the last 30 chapters" I sweatdropped a little… kind of an oxymoron. Wow, really? You found this story in the archive? Out of the hundreds of thousands? What are the chances, eh? Thank youu I'm glad you liked this story! And thank you for appreciating the plot itself, and even the OCs! :hugs:
Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing!
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Chapter Thirty-One
Trial 2, Conclusion
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News of Ilonka's attempted escape and recapture spread like wildfire throughout the castle. Soldiers, guards, and maids ran around in panic in an attempt to find the King. But he was locked away in his bedroom with a crying Tomoyo who refused to budge nor let him go anywhere.
"Tomoyo, please, we shall discuss this tomorrow!" King Syaoran massaged his temples in frustration. The woman has been on her knees in front of him for over two hours and hasn't stopped sobbing for even a single second. "Let me go, there seems to be a commotion going on in the castle."
But Tomoyo quickly caught up to him on her knees and tackled down his left leg. "NO! I will not! I meant every words I said—I won't budge until you agree to let Ilonka go—just please, release her in secret, no one will know you released her; they'll just think she escaped and your reputation will be intact! Please, please Your Majesty, I know you must feel something for her! I know you care about her, I know you do! So don't do this!"
"Do you realize what you're asking of me? You're asking the King to commit treason! Absolutely not. Tomoyo, this is getting ridiculous; I am tired and wish to rest and you're taking advantage of the fact you're Eriol's lady and know I won't hurt you nor treat you badly because of that. But I will warn you my patience is limited and if push comes to shove I will take drastic measures."
"You say that as if it matters to me! The life of my best friend is to be smothered within a day's time and you think I'm worried about you taking drastic measures against me? Or annoyed at my pleas? They're so insignificant—nothing matters to me compared to Ilonka's life!"
"While I understand—"
"YOUR MAJESTY!" The door to his bedroom burst open as a guard ran in and quickly dropped on his knees.
"GODDAMMIT WHAT DO YOU WANT?" The King spun around in frustration. "I gave very specific commands that no one is allowed in until I say otherwise! What makes you think you're any different?"
"Your Majesty please! Hear me out! This is news of utmost importance!"
"Make it quick."
"Hours ago the assassin Fai Ilonka escaped the castle." King Syaoran's eyes widened. But then something clicked and he glared at Tomoyo, who gulped nervously. "Luckily while Princess Eyre Jacquette was taking a midnight stroll with her beloved, she stumbled upon the escapee. According to some sources Fai Ilonka was accompanied by Lady Kalira Jelensta… that fact is not yet confirmed, but the good news is that Princess Eyre's soldiers were efficient and quickly took down Fai, and is on their way to bring her back to the castle. There have been some rumours going around that Hiiragizawa Eriol was the last person to call Fai Ilonka out for a special 'trial'… and since then no one has seen either of them."
The King closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew exactly who were behind this. Not confirmed? It mattered not, he already knew. Jelensta most definitely would've been there. It all makes sense now; Tomoyo being here for all this time was merely to distract him… which meant most likely Sakura and Meiling were in on this too. And it would've had to have been Eriol who let Ilonka out… only he had that kind of power, next to the King… King Syaoran clenched his fist. So he would even betray my trust for him built through 20-some years to help Tomoyo save a friend… Tomoyo, a woman he's barely known for over a year… "I understand." Was all he said instead. "Find Eriol, and send him here."
"What about Lady Jelensta?"
"Just Eriol. Make it quick. And I want this castle to shut the hell up and go back to damn bed. When Ilonka is brought back, put her back into her cell and double the security; she is not to be let out under any circumstance by anyone including myself until the hour of her scheduled death. Now go."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The soldier bowed once more and quickly ran out the room.
"Now you…" he spun around slowly, until he was facing Tomoyo directly.
Tomoyo gulped, her heart pounding erratically. "Y-Yes… Your Majesty?"
Oddly enough, he felt calm. Or perhaps he was holding in his anger; after all, out of all of them, there was only one person he was truly angry at. "Get out."
"But—"
"Get. Out."
Tomoyo nodded quickly as she scurried out the door, head pounding, heart racing. How could this happen…? How could Ilonka have been brought back? Oh no… I must warn all the others; surely the King will punish us all terribly!
When Tomoyo was gone, King Syaoran's shoulders began to shake from anger. Eriol. The one person in the world he thought he could trust in all circumstances… the one person he thought understood him completely… the one who was suppose to be his best friend.
Eriol…
—
Moments later the door to the King's room opened as the soldier quickly bowed, with Eriol by his side. "Advisor Hiiragizawa Eriol has been brought, my Lord."
King Syaoran spun around, rage reflecting clearly in his eyes.
Despite not being dismissed, something about the fire in the King's eyes scared him, and so the guard quickly retreated, closing the door behind him.
"YOU! HOW DARE YOU!"
Eriol fell on his knees in an instant. He knew exactly what this is about, and exactly how serious of a crime he's committed. They've all committed. "Ilonka was a friend! A friend to all of us! Tomoyo, Meiling, me, Sakura, and even your precious Jelensta! And I would've thought she was a friend to you as wel—"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT!" The King roared, his face red with unspeakable rage. "YOU THINK I WISHED FOR THIS? YOU THINK THIS WAS EASY FOR ME? ANYONE WHO EVER MEANT ANYTHING TO ME CARED FOR THIS WOMAN! I HURT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SENTENCING ILONKA, YOU THINK THAT WAS FUN FOR ME? YOU THINK I FELT NOTHING? And like you said, Ilonka was a friend to me too, or so I apparently thought."
Eriol looked to the ground bitterly. "But the power was always within your grasp, Your Majesty. If it was so supposedly 'difficult' for you, all you had to do was release her, and call off the sentence. But you didn't, now did you. My sincerest apologies but I have trouble believing the sincerity of your words."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Eriol found himself sprawling across the floor, his lips bloody. He was momentarily dizzy, and shocked. Of all these years, the King had never struck him, under any circumstances. Slowly, he pushed himself up back onto his knees. When he did, he found himself face to face with the King, with cold, murderous eyes barely an inch away from him. The stare scared him. He had not seen the King so angry since the day he carried out his sworn revenge against his uncle. It was a time period when he completely sealed away his heart, set on nothing but the goal ahead of him.
The King's voice was barely audible, but it contained an undeniable hatred that chilled Eriol to the bone. But simultaneously… did he detect pain, as well? "Sakura, Tomoyo, Meiling, Jelensta… I can understand why they did this. Had anyone of them said what you did, I would be infuriated, but I would not strike them, and I would forgive them. But you." There was almost a tint of disgust as he said that word. "I thought better of you. I thought you were the only one who truly understood me. You know my duties as a King. You know the rules of the Kingdom. You understand that as a King it is not simply about doing what I want, but also to be responsible to the Kingdom and set an example to the people I rule. You know I could not let Ilonka go. Had I done so I would lose the respect of my people and they would riot against me. Someone who's on many occasions attempted to murder me, someone who's been hunted and offered hundreds of thousands of gold for reward if caught dead or alive, simply let go? It would be absurd and preposterous, and it would be the end of the Li Kingdom. Everyone within this castle would be looked down upon, hunted and murdered as the next warrior attempts to steal the throne. Other Kingdoms would see me as weak and break alliances, or even worse declare war upon us. You know all of this! You know the politics behind everything and yet you say such things to me?"
Eriol swallowed thickly. Yeah. He knew all that. Or perhaps, once upon a time, he did… but… Tomoyo. He just couldn't bear to see her in pain. And perhaps momentarily, he had forgotten everything unpleasant. He did not wish to be the one to tell her the truths of the world, as he knew she would not understand… and perhaps because of that, his mind conveniently blocked everything out, and he abided by her plan.
"I have been more than generous sentencing Ilonka to death by poison. You know that! Had it been anyone else, any other King, she would've been sentenced to be killed by being torn to pieces, along with the death of anyone who's ever known her! Would you have preferred that? Would you have preferred your Tomoyo to be torn to pieces alongside Ilonka?"
Eriol looked up angrily. "NEVER."
The King took a deep breath, stared into those determined eyes, and suddenly, something hit him. "Tomoyo… it was her idea."
Eriol said nothing. He didn't like where this was going.
"Answer me, was it Tomoyo, Eriol? It was her idea wasn't it. She was pained by Ilonka's future, and… she asked you to save her."
Still, Eriol said nothing.
"ANSWER ME!"
Slowly, he replied, "Does it matter? It was I who committed this traitorous act."
King Syaoran closed his eyes as he stood up, taking a deep breath. "You're head over heels for her. So much to the point you would willingly betray me for her. You would forget everything real in this world to live in your fantasy with her. She's poisoned your mind…"
"My liege…?"
That dead, emotionless look never faded from his eyes, as the King spun back around, and stared at him. "I hereby retract my blessings to your relationship. Tomoyo is never to be your bride."
The words rung, harsh and binding. "Y-Your Majesty…" Eriol felt faint. The room began to spin. No… Tomoyo was his life… he could not lose her… "Y-You don't mean that…"
"I do. She's no good for you, filling your head with lies. I shall find someone more fitting for you. More educated, and of higher status."
Eriol felt unable to breath. Something was choking him at the base of his throat. "Y-Your Majesty, I was wrong! Punish me any other way, please… please! PLEASE! T-Tomoyo is my sun, my stars, my—"
But the King ignored him, continued to bore those cold, dead eyes into his. "And in addition, within the next seven days, I will have her sent out of this castle, to continue living her life among the peasants, as she deserves to."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Eriol cried in anguish as his hands fell to the ground, but even so, his arm didn't have enough strength to support the rest of his body. There was a pain eating at his heart like cancer. Slowly, his forehead touched the ground, as tears seeped into the carpeted floor. Never, had he felt so much pain in his life. "P-PLEASE D-DON-DON'T DO TH-THIS TO M-ME!" His voice came out erratic and raspy; he felt the very breath being sucked out of him by the pain. He simply could not breathe. This is a nightmare… it has to be a nightmare! THIS IS CRUELTY BEYOND REASON! THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING!
But the King simply walked by him, opened the door and stepped out. "Also, the execution will happen as planned tomorrow. I'll give you a minute to absorb all this. I will be back in an hour, please be gone by then." With that, he closed the door behind him, leaving Eriol alone and falling apart, on the floor.
—
When the sun once again rose, its rays shone through the glass windows and stroked Jelensta, Tomoyo, Sakura, and Meiling, lighting their faces. Their eyes were tired and dead, tear stains dry on their faces.
A knock came at the door. Soldiers came in. Their mouths moved. The girls couldn't remember what the soldiers said, only that they got up from their seats, and followed them out of Jelensta's room.
It was like moving slow motion in a dream.
No, a nightmare.
It seemed so surreal, as if it just couldn't be happening. Merely moments ago Ilonka was free, Jelensta was getting ready to say a tearful goodbye to her… yet now. How did this happen? They're here. And Ilonka's going to be killed within the hour. Killed. Dead. Gone. Forever. The concept seemed too abstract to be grasped.
Next minute brought the girls to the throne room. King Syaoran sat upon the royal throne, Eriol standing at his right. His eyes were distant; pain spattered clearly all over his face. Someone ushered Jelensta. She nodded at whatever he said and let her legs walk her body up to the place to the King's left. Sakura, Meiling, and Tomoyo stood a few steps down from the throne, amongst the crowd of royalties that surrounded the room to watch the conclusion to the trial.
In the middle of the room knelt Ilonka, her arms bounded behind her and her legs bounded together. Her messy, blood-stained hair fell around her, covering her badly bruised face.
Time passes.
A gong rang throughout the room. The door to the throne room closes.
The King rose from his seat as Eriol took a few steps forward and unrolled a large parchment, and began to read out Ilonka's sentence.
Something about attempted murder… about escape… about hurting people… about death.
Jelensta felt herself begin to slip away. No. I can't do this… not now. I have to be strong… this is… this is Ilonka's last minutes. I have to remember her. Remember her… forever… Jelensta closed her eyes and bit her tongue until it bled. The sharp pain caused her to wince and jerk slightly.
She opened her eyes, and it was as if everything around her changed.
She suddenly became aware of her surroundings. How large the room was. How loud Eriol's voice rang through the silent room. How cold but powerful the King looked standing there in his royal clothing. And how red Ilonka's hair was against these gray walls and floor. It was as if she sucked away all the colours around her. In the middle of the room, she glowed.
Look at me… Jelensta stared at her lover intently. Please look at me… Behind her she barely caught the sound of liquid being poured into a wine glass.
Captain Ramsa held the wine glass on an intricate wooden tray and walked past Jelensta, and stopped in front of Ilonka.
Jelensta took a step forward unintentionally. The King's eyes shifted as he stared at her, as if knowing she was going to do something stupid.
This is to happen… this is our fate… I accept it… I accept that no matter what I do now, nothing will change. I will not make a spectacle of myself. Of you. You will die with dignity, without regrets, without tears. These damn onlookers will never see your weak side, my angel… my Angel of Fire.
Captain Ramsa stopped in front of Ilonka.
Look at me darling! I need to see you one last time!
He bent forward just the slightest and lowered the tray.
Lonka!
A soldier stopped behind Ilonka, and cut off the ropes binding her hands. Her hands fell forward and rested on the floor motionlessly. She looked tired, and dejected.
No, Lonka. Don't let them see you like that. Show your pride, show your confidence… don't leave looking like this…
"Fai Ilonka," Captain Ramsa bellowed, making sure the entire room heard. "King Li Syaoran hereby bestows you this cup of wine for your crimes. May you find your redemption within it."
Lonka…!
And that fiery red hair moved. As Ilonka straightened her body and lifted her head, the puddle of hair from the ground were pulled up. They fell back and glided off her shoulders gracefully. Ilonka held her head high, and faced Ramsa. Her eyelashes spread as she opened her eyes. Those bright, determined dark eyes. Their light shining brighter than ever. They contained no fear.
That's my girl. A warm smile spread across Jelensta's face as tears filled her eyes, and she sniffled. Despite her bruises, Jelensta thought she never looked prettier. That's it… that's the look. We're going to be okay.
Ilonka's eyes shifted, and she stared at Jelensta. But it was a brief moment, before she turned her attention back to Captain Ramsa. Her hand came up and she took the glass of poisoned wine. "Thank you, Your Majesty." She said customarily. She stared into the wine.
Jelensta stared at her in a frenzy, studying each of her features. Especially those eyes that will never shine again. Or that red hair, that will become dull and brittle. But most of all… she couldn't take her eyes off that glass of wine.
The glass inched closer and closer to Ilonka's broken lips. It was as if time had slowed down. It was torture watching the scene. To so desperately want to slow down time—or better yet, stop it—yet no matter how hard you wish, you know it would never happen.
The cup touched Ilonka's lips.
Jelensta thought she was ready. But she wasn't.
She screamed. "NO! YOU CANNOT KILL HER YOU CANNOT!" She cried in sheer anguish. She ran forward, her arms reaching out for her lover. But she barely got two steps forward before a pair of strong arms grabbed her from behind.
Jelensta screamed and screamed, her hand reaching out, struggling desperately but uselessly against the person. She didn't care about reason anymore, all she wanted was Ilonka. But the pain was too great, she soon lost all strength to struggle and fell helplessly onto the ground, tears pouring out so rapidly it blinded her.
All the commotion from Jelensta caused Ilonka to pause. The wine glass still against her lips; the poisonous liquid millimetres away from her tongue.
She didn't cry, nor did she show any sign of faltering bravery. Instead, she looked up slowly into Jelensta's eyes. Jelensta's eyes widened as she wiped her tears away rapidly. She needed to see her Lonka clearly. She could almost hear Ilonka's voice. It's going to be okay, Lenta. I love you, forever.
And subtly, Ilonka rotated her hand holding the wine glass just a little bit to show the back of it.
Maybe Jelensta was dreaming or imagining things, but she could swear she saw it. There it was still. Jelensta's lip print.
In life, or death. I am yours. For eternity and beyond.
And Ilonka drank the poison.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
—
The next thing Jelensta knew the arms around her were gone, and King Syaoran was standing tall and important, staring coldly down at Ilonka's dead body. "Cut up that traitor's body into 999 pieces and feed it to the pigs for tonight's dinner! May her soul never find its body on earth and be forever condemned!"
Two soldiers came up and dragged Ilonka's limp body away like a sack of garbage.
Jelensta could not believe her ears. How the hell could he be so cruel? She spun her head around sharply to face him. "HOW COULD YOU, YOU CRUEL BASTARD!" She wanted to scream. But the moment was such an unbelievable shock to her that as she opened her mouth to scream, she choked on her own saliva and began to cough erratically.
The King didn't even cast her a glance. He simply faced the audience. "Let this be a lesson to you all, and let this story be taken with you wherever you go. That this, this is the punishment for treason. That is all. DISMISSED!"
Jelensta choked as she tried to grab the King's pant leg and yell at him. But her eyes became watery and the room began to blur.
Somewhere around her screaming and crying were heard, probably from Sakura, Meiling and Tomoyo. Everywhere else people left in groups, muttering amongst themselves.
She wasn't sure how long had passed, just that eventually the room emptied out.
King Syaoran stared at Jelensta's figure on the ground in sorrow. She was still gasping for breath, and hiccupping uncontrollably. Finally, he fell on his knees in front of her and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.
Jelensta struggled against him for all she was worth, which at the moment wasn't much. When she finally found the strength, she shoved him backwards and raised her hand to slap the King across the face. But because she was shaking so badly and was so weak from crying, her hand merely brushed by his face. "HOW? NOT ONLY DO YOU KILL HER YOU HAD TO DISGRACE HER LIKE THAT?"
The King sighed. "It was something the audience needed to hear…" Syaoran kissed the side of her head tenderly. "Lenta… I thought you knew me enough by now… I could never do that to you… to Sakura… to Meiling… or even to Tomoyo… Ilonka is being taken away right now, and buried."
Jelensta's head snapped upwards as she stared into Syaoran's melancholy eyes in shock. "Syaoran…" And she turned and hugged him tightly. "Oh Syaoran… I really do love you…"
"I know, Lenta…" he smiled warmly, looking down at the woman he once loved more than all and wanted so badly to be his wife. But no more. This was enough. He still loved her, but he was finally able to let her go. She would always be a sister to him. His sweet, loveable, little darling sister. "Besides… I couldn't do it to me either…"
Somehow, knowing he had buried her, and that she now had a grave to visit, made her feel a great deal more relieved. She wiped at the last of her tears and pulled back to look at Syaoran in the eyes. "Hm? I know she's beautiful, but I hadn't realized you've fallen that deep for her."
But Syaoran didn't seem to be in the mood for jokes. He was… deeply troubled.
"Syaoran…?"
"Lenta… you're not to say this to anyone, understand? Anyone."
"Of course…"
He took a deep breath. "Ilonka… might be my half sister…"
Jelensta's eyes widened bit by bit, as she absorbed the information. And suddenly it made sense. "Your father…"
"…raped her mother. When she escaped back to her husband…"
"…she would've been greatly ashamed and want to erase the memories of King Li's treachery by sleeping with her husband."
"However… my father had gotten to her first… so…"
"…really, who knows?" Jelensta concluded.
A moment of silence passed between them, as they both tried to absorb this newly acquired conclusion.
"And now… we'll never know…" Jelensta said softly.
King Syaoran nodded slowly. "Unless… I track down her father."
Jelensta's head snapped up. "What? You can't be serious! How do you think he will react after your father ruined his family and then you went and killed his daughter and now—"
Syaoran touched her shoulder gently, silencing her. "Do not worry. I promise you, I will not. My family has hurt him and his family enough… and now that I've killed his only daughter, his only living memory of the woman he loves… no doubt he will hate me and try to kill me even if—and I'm sure it will—it costs him his life. And I do not want any more Fai blood on my conscience. Although, I am fairly certain he does suspect of this, and that's why I believe it was so important to him that Ilonka hated every Li… His worst nightmare would be for his daughter to become family with the Lis and turn on him. And so he fed her those hateful stories as her bedtime story… what a cruel father. But, even if he suspects Ilonka to be a Li, do you think he would ever admit it? It would be too much. I'm sure he's convinced himself completely by this point that Ilonka is his daughter."
"And so… we'll just never know…"
"Yeah." King Syaoran replied softly.
And neither spoke another word.
Syaoran hugged Jelensta to him tightly, asking her to carry some of his pain. And she did so willingly. Hugging him tightly, letting him know that no matter what happened, she will be here for him, and love him.
A half-sister.
He might've killed his own half-sister…
But, he'll never know the truth of it…
Never.
—
Following the King's directions, Jelensta walked deep into the untamed forest miles away from the castle. As promised, after passing all the landmarks the King mentioned, she arrived in front of a giant maple tree. The leaves are still green due to the season, but she could just imagine them bright red and orange by fall. It's perfect.
Beneath the tree stood a single silver cross, reaching to only about her knees, as not to attract attention. The cross is very thin, and normally one would not see it unless one was looking for it.
Jelensta pulled up her skirt and sat on the dirt and leaves next to the cross. She leaned back against the bark of the tree.
"Hi honey… how are you doing now? I hope you're in a happier place…" Jelensta closed her eyes, and just spoke. She spoke everything in her mind, and pretended Ilonka was sitting next to her, listening.
Hours passed, and soon the sun began to set. Reluctantly, Jelensta forced her eyes open, and she was once again brought to the reality, where there was nothing but empty air next to her. Tears began to well up in her eyes, but she bit her lips, and swallowed hard, holding them back. No. No more. No more tears; no more sadness. There's been enough of that today, and she was sick of being sad.
Jelensta pushed herself off the ground, and stood straight and tall. "I'll visit you tomorrow, Lonka, okay? I promise, I will come see you everyday, be it raining or snowing; cold or hot. I love you. I love you more than anything this earth can offer."
While the wound in her heart was still fresh, she realized she has come to peace with what's happened.
And, Syaoran has given her faith in kindness, once again.
Somehow, knowing his loss, knowing what he had to go through, made her feel stronger.
Peace. It was a good feeling.
Farewell, Ilonka…
—
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Author's Note: And… this whole "assassin saga", is finally concluded. (This was srsly planned to be like 3 chapters at most… -.-) Anyway, things will be happier by next chapter… it's almost done… I'm almost done writing it; on the last chapter now, actually. But debating whether to split it into two, yet again, because like everything else I write, it's turning out too long.
Wow, that was a run-on sentence.
Excuse any typos in Author's Notes, they were not edited at all… back to studying Economics!
5011 Words. Relatively short. Because this and last chapter was suppose to be 1 chapter... -.-