Latvia could never fall asleep that night. Everyone refused to talk to him both in the evening and during breakfast. He sat down beside Sealand at breakfast but he got on his feet in the same second as Latvia sat down. When Latvia asked him, Sealand had simply replied that Britain had forbidden him from talking to thieves and when Latvia insisted that he wasn't a thief, Britain and Scotland had come by and taken Sealand by his hand and walked away, while giving Latvia dark eyes.
The day couldn't have begun worse. Or yes, maybe if he had had Russia hanging over him all the time. Latvia had actually, to his relief, not seen Russia on all day. Probably because he promised Sweden that Latvia would get a fair trial.
Thas was the next thing that worried Latvia. If there would be a fair trial someone should defend him, but so far no one had wanted to know him at all.
-O-O-O-
It turned out that this feeling had been completely accurate. No one wanted to defend Latvia, which meant he had to do it himself. They had borrowed the school's gymnasium to hold the trial. The whole school was there, and it seemed that it would take a long time.
"I am innocent!" Latvia explained for the 800th time. Russia and Belarus had provided suggestions on a lot of torture, one more horrible than the other. At the same time they also reminded Latvia that the punishment and torture would be less terrifying if he confessed, but Latvia refused to confess. He hadn't done anything and he was not going to let anyone punish him for it either. He himself knew that he was innocent anyway.
Russia didn't seem to listen to Latvia's explanations that he was innocent anyway, now he stood up and asked everyone else in the room if they had any tips on torture. Latvia reiterated that he was innocent and refused once again to admit something he hadn't done. But he was interrupted by America who had suddenly got an idea that he absolutely must share with everyone.
"Can't we throw him in that Icelandic volcano that erupted? Efattalla or whatever it's name was." America leaned back in his chair and seemed very pleased with himself, Iceland, however got quite angry at that proposal.
"It's called Eyjafjallajökul, and no, we can not, I don't want thieves inside my volcano." Before Latvia had time to defend himself, Italy had spoken up.
"I can think of lending the Vesuvius!" But Romano didn't want to allow that.
"HEY, THAT LIES ON MY SIDE, LOAN OUT SOME OF YOUR OWN STUFF." The chaos that arose was finally stopped by Austria.
"Excuse me, can't we determine the method of torture later?" Latvia breathed out over Austria's proposal, it must mean that at least someone was willing to listen to him. That was at least what he thought before Austria continued. "I think we judge him right now so that we who not want to see a lot of blood can leave!" When Latvia heard Austria say that he also noticed the first tear. They had been on their way for a long time, but he had managed to hold them back so far.
"No!" It was a very unexpected voice in that context, it was Belarus. But Latvia had stopped hoping for miracles now, he realized that he would just be disappointed if he did." The torture is the most important." Belarus continued and Latvia actually felt that the disappointment was less this time when he had not hoped for anything, and that he needed to be able to listen to what Belarus had figured out next. "I think we should get started, torture is the best way to get someone to admit!" For once Russia was actually so happy to have his little sister around that he gave her a smile.
"Well, who wants to be the leader of the torture then?" He asked everyone in the room.
"I will!" Latvia suddenly sat bolt upright and could only stare in front of himself. He simply could not have heard that voice. But it did not take long before he had Lithuania's hand on his shoulder. "Come on Latvia!"
Latvia could feel his legs moving, they lifted him up from his chair and began to follow Lithuania from there. He knew he did not move by himself, he simply couldn't have managed. It was as if he saw someone else be taken away, all this was so wrong. Lithuania closed the door behind them and began to lead Latvia out of it. He did not say a word and he did not flinch. Latvia however, thought that it was a miracle that his brain did not get sore from all thinking. He must think of something to say. He simply couldn't take this silence anymore.
"Lithuania?" Lithuania didn't answer but Latvia could see that he had heard him, he seemed a bit annoyed. At that time Latvia decided that he couldn't give up, he had to get Lithuania to say something. "Lithuania Please tell me you don't seriously believe I have stolen from Russia! What would I gain from it?" To his relief Latvia noticed that Lithuania seemed to react to what he said.
"Latvia, the egg was found in your locker? Somehow it must have got there and you have not left out the code to someone, right?" Latvia swallowed, he hadn't done that. But he also knew that he had not stolen Russia's Fabergé egg. Doing that had been simply stupid.
"It wasn't me who put the egg in my locker, and I don't really think that you can believe it was me neither!"
"You mean Russia would have planted the egg in your locker to make it look like you had stolen it?" Lithuania asked and Latvia noticed in Lithuania's voice that he didn't believe this for a secound. "Not even Russia would sink that low, additionally you saw the way he looked when he was looking for it. He seemed as if he would have started crying at any moment." Lithuania pushed Latvia into an empty room with no windows. "I'll come back here and pick you up when we have decided what punishment you shall get." A moment later Latvia saw how the door was closed again, and secounds before he started banging on it, he heard how the lock was closed.
"LITHUANIA" The only answer Latvia got was Lithuania's footsteps that disappeared. The room was dark and there were no lamps to light. Latvia knew that already so he didn't even try to find one. There were no windows either, so he felt he might as well give up. The only way out was the door and Lithuania had locked it.
Now that no one can see him, Latvia cannot hold the tears back anymore. He allowed them to come, all of them at once. This situation simply can't be more hopeless.
-o-o-o-
Half an hour later, Lithuania was back. This time he had brought Estonia with him. Latvia heard them unlock the door and looked up. Still, there was nothing in their eyes that suggested that they hesitated whether he had anything with the theft of Russia's Fabergé egg to do. But they weren't as harsh with him as before. Latvia could only interpret this in one way. Whatever they had devised for the penalty, it must be very, very terrifying. Lithuania went into the room and bent down over Latvia.
"You might as well stand up Latvia, Russia wants this over with!" Latvia saw Lithuania holding his hand out for him to help him stand up. What he should do now was to receive the hand and rise, but Latvia couldn't do it. He was just shaking too much.
Suddenly Estonia was there too. He bent down and placed his hand on Latvia's back. But this was more than Latvia could take. Before he realized what he did, he had shoved them both away.
"PLEASE! THINK THIS OVER FOR JUST ONE SECOUND NOW! YOU DON'T REALLY THINK I'VE STOLEN ANYTHING, I KNOW YOU DON'T! YOU ARE JUST SO INCREDIBLY RELIEVED THAT YOU DO NOT STAND THE MIDDLE OF FIRE LIKE ME! "Latvia was on his feet faster than he thought himself capable of, and he ran towards the door to escape, but Lithuania somehow know what he was trying to do so he literally jumped on his feet and placed himself in Latvia's way.
"Latvia, it's better to get it over with!" Then he held up a scarf in front of Latvia. "We managed to get Russia to agree that it would be more humane if you didn't have to see what happens." For the first time since this all started Latvia seemed to hear something resembling to compassion in Lithuania's voice.
"Why can't you just listen to me?" Lithuania did not answer Latvia, instead he tied the blindfold over his eyes. Estonia had already taken hold of one of Latvia's arms to lead him, and Lithuania soon did the same thing with his other arm and then they started walking.
Latvia held both Estonia and Lithuania's arms firmly. He just couldn't believe that he would be able to stand upright if they released him and somehow he still wanted to keep at least a little dignity when he came back to the others.
Soon, Latvia heard a door open, and he understood that he walked through it before it was closed again. A second later he heard Lithuania whisper to him and adviced him to stand still. Then both he and Estonia disappeard and Latvia was left alone.
The next thing Latvia become aware of was Russia's voice.
"Take your blindfold off!" Latvia gasped, Lithuania had told him that Russia had agreed that he would not have to see what happened to him. But judging from this, it seemed like he had forgotten it very quickly. "Take your blindfold off!" Russia repeated "It is an order!"
"Maybe you should do as he says" he heard Lithuania say. Despite the fact that it was him who had promised Latvia that he would be allowed to wear it.
Latvia slowly lifted his arms to his head. He tried to untie the knot, but now he was trembling so much that this was a completely impossible task. It actually seemed more like he was just scratching his hair very quickly. And then he heard Russia's voice again.
"Latvia stop playing around and take that blindfold off!" Then Latvia gave up trying to get the knot out and just tore the scarf from his eyes. Then he looked out over the room. The vision that met his eyes made his legs shiver under him, and the next second, he felt his knees touching the floor.