Game of Thrones: Loves Many Trials

Chapter 39 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

Note, this chapter contains the trials, they may seem short but that's for two reasons. One I cannot write a trial scene to save my life and two, it's through the eyes of the victims and their stresses mean they would surely miss things or feel things were moving too fast, anyway, that's just the way it is.

Reviews

Marina Ka-Fai: Yes, indeed, things are looking worrying there. But glad you liked that part.
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks.
Veridissima: Yeah, it's pretty bad, but, well, we can only wait and see. Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
wazzup11: Think you're getting mixed up, chapter 37 was happy, this one had something horrible happen, albeit the scene with Lancel was happy.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Chapter 39

Seated on the bench outside the courthouse, waiting anxiously for things to begin, Meera found it difficult to breathe. She had tried to dress up well, as she knew, being in court, she'd need to make a formal impression, even as the victim.

But the most formal clothes she owned made her feel too exposed after what happened to her. A black knee length pencil skirt with a white blouse, short grey jacket and small black heels. Clad in black trousers, a white shirt and simple black socks and polished black shoes, Jamie gently put his hand on her shoulder.

"I...what if I..."

He shook his head. "No Meera, don't, don't do this to yourself. You can do this, I know you can."

She bit her lip, looking around. She wasn't the only one in a state, although in separate courtrooms, she was relieved to see that those that had suffered with her were getting their day to make their voices heard, their chance at justice.

Sansa, a similar outfit to hers minus the jacket and wearing flats instead of heels sat, comforted by Brian. While still relatively formal, he wore more casual clothing than the others. Namely Khaki pants and a black polo shirt with white socks and black dress shoes.

Finally she saw Lancel and Marina, Lancel in all black, her jacket, trousers, shoes and shirt, the dark blue tie offering some colour, Marina in black trousers and a white blouse with black flats. They all looked pale, worried, but determined.

"You can do this, we can all do this." Jamie said.

She was amazed that Jamie, despite his issues, was able to reassure her like this, amazed and overjoyed.

But that joy was cut short when the doors opened, it was time to go, she looked over at the others, they all smiled at her, she did the same, but their smiles were shaky, they were nervous and with good cause.

Still, along with Jamie she headed for the courtroom where Ramsay's trial was to be held, it was time for her to see justice done for what had happened to her. Meanwhile, as they headed for the other courtroom, where Joffrey's trial was to be heard, Marina, Lancel, Brian and Sansa all prepared themselves.

'I...I have to face this, they're holding the trial for what Joffrey did to me first.' Sansa told herself. 'I just, I hope I can do it.'

Brian, seeing her turmoil, squeezed her hand reassuringly. Smiling to him she nodded. Lancel and Marina didn't say much, but they both focused, ready, prepared for what was to come. It was time to see Joffrey and Ramsay pay for their actions, to let them see that, while they had hurt all of them, they hadn't broken them.

That would be their true justice.

Facing Ramsay was the hardest thing Meera had to do. So much so the trial passed by faster than she could process, or at least, that's what it felt like. Telling a bunch of random people of her misery was reliving her rape all over again.

Jamie had been near her all the time, his fingers hugging hers, she could feel his strength and his love flowing under her skin with this mere touch. Once on the stand, to give her testimony, it was his eyes on her gave her the courage she needed. Not even Ramsay's stare could make her silent. She'd tell everything. Everyone and everything was on her side.

The medical records proved she had been raped, the DNA proved it was him all along. Marina would back her up, she saw her at the hospital, she heard Jamie, the doctors, while she was worrying herself over the possible loss of the man she loved so much she called him her one true love. She could stutter, she could be embarrassed, she was the victim, not him.

It was just one event she had to go through until she could bury this part of her. Jamie would help shovelling, she knew. With his love, the stain would wash away and she'd live, happy. That would be her best revenge: standing tall, mended, happy, proud. Ramsay would never win. When the trial finally ended and the jury came back with their sentence she waited, rigid, but then it passed.

The sentence he was given had the sweetest taste in her mouth.

The first person called to the stand against Joffrey was Marina, although, not for Lancel's case.

"Sansa told me she was adamant she heard the man who took her that she was to be given to Joffrey." Marina said

Sansa was glad Marina stood with her, though she wondered why she had doubted it in the first place. She had something against Joffrey too, he had almost murdered her husband-to-be.

They weren't engaged, but the way they were together made it clear they'd be together for a long time, if not a lifetime, and build a family together.

"You could say that as you are related to someone my client has physically hurt, you are not objective."

"Indeed. This is why I suggest you ask the doctors, the policemen, the nurse, Lancel and Meera's families, who were there and heard everything from Sansa's mouth. Among them, there are more than enough people who are neutral enough in this matter."

Indeed those people were question and it was all corroborated, so much so that, despite Joffrey's lawyers efforts, and Joffrey's own protests which nearly had him taken out of the courtroom, the evidence just kept mounting against him.

Even the men he had hired admitted the whole truth, clearly seeing there was no way out. Sansa felt as if her mind was playing tricks on her, the trial seemed to pass so fast, before she knew it, it was her turn to speak. Speaking of her humiliation had been on the hardest thing she had to do and she felt happy it'd be over soon.

Later, when all was said and done, she was relieved to have Brian by her side, discreetly hugging her and just being able to feel his warmth, she felt safer already. Once the trial for what Joffrey had done to Lancel was over, they'd hear his sentence.

The time had come, Joffrey's second trial, the one for his attack on Lancel began. Lancel watched as Marina was called to give her testimony. Her voice was loud, clear, she was on point, not neglecting any details, remaining sober when she needed. He admired her strength of character. She was dignified. He only hoped he'd honour her by showing the same clarity.

"So, what happened that day, Miss Flanders?"

"My boyfriend and I were sitting on the bench under the willow tree, talking about our writing projects. Joffrey came to us and started to taunt me, as usual. There was never a day at school when I wouldn't be treated with one of his insults. He started to rant on a psychological portrait he had made of me, one quite accurate to be truthful." She explained. "He snapped his fingers and his men held me. Lancel got up, trying to reason with his cousin. Joffrey went on, explaining he had found the way to hurt me at last. As Lancel shook his shoulder, he grabbed him and with his other hand he stabbed him. He even twisted the blade before removing it."

As they listened to school's head of security explain how they had found him bleeding out in Marina's arms, Joffrey and his men ready to attack again, Lancel felt Marina's hand tightening around his.

He put his free hand on hers, giving her, he hoped, some strength. He knew she was almost willing to forgive Joffrey, thinking he might have a psychological issue. But there was also the issue of what he had ordered his men to do to Sansa, what he planned to do with her once finished with Lancel and Marina. She had thought of Cersei's pain.

She wanted this behind her and he knew how painful that trial was, it was just as much for him too. The fragile peace between the Lannisters was at stake, Cersei would never forgive him, or Marina, for putting her golden child behind bars.

"We arrived, finding Lancel on the floor, barely conscious, held by Marina. Joffrey and his men were walking towards them, ready to attack again. Marina tried to shield Lancel with her own body, still holding him."

Marina's quick grasping of his hand before he went to testify filled Lancel with hope and courage. He was a victim here, he had to never forget that. He was not a culprit. He was a victim. He had been hurt.

He had escaped Death. He had been used as a tool to hurt Marina. All he had to do was tell the truth. Explain his relationships with Joffrey, how Marina gave him the courage he lacked to leave this abusive relationship, how Joffrey never accepted that a woman, one unfit to womanhood in his eyes, dared to defy him and even him, between the cheers, the applauses, even the laughs she had earned from her comebacks, laughs coming from his own allies.

All of that leading to his twisted plan to hurt her through him, as hurting her had no apparent effect. Marina's gaze on him eased him and he was even surprised to be so clear and eloquent.

"Marina and I were sitting in the school's garden, chatting away, when my cousin arrived and started his usual routine of making people feel miserable." He told the court. "He started to rant, then he had his allies restrain Marina, forcing her on her feet. I tried to reason with him but he went on and as I tried to shook him to make him come back to his senses, he stabbed me."

There was more of course, much more, but for Lancel, it was almost too much, so he tried to just focus on staying calm. In the end however, in addition to what happened with Sansa, the jury came back to deliver their verdict.

Hearing Joffrey's sentence, Marina only thought of the waste it was, as Joffrey clearly wasn't dumb, but his intelligence was used for the bad causes. She thought of his mother, of his siblings.

She wasn't happy, sad, she only thought of the waste, of that huge waste. Life was made of choices, Joffrey had made his and even his own mother had to accept that. For now, she would just be relieved to leave this place, her hand in Lancel's, ready to forget everything.

For Joffrey was sentenced to thirty-five years for attempted murder, with an additional five for the kidnapping, his accomplices all clearly showing no remorse, got similar sentences between them all. Meeting up with Jamie and Meera they learned that Ramsay had been sentenced to thirty years for his attack on Meera, again his unrepentant accomplices all faced similar punishment.

But for those who had suffered. They were just glad it was over. Now they had a fresh worry however, for while they would make a full recovery, there was still the mystery of who had attacked Margaery and Loras by sabotaging their car.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.