"I know you are unhappy, my dearest," Dorian said to Arielle, standing in her doorway, "but believe me that what I did had to be done."

Arielle said nothing. Eden had been taken away three days ago. Arielle wasn't allowed to see her nor did she know how she was doing or even what exactly she was being held for. All she had been told was that there would be a trial.

Dorian suddenly sighed and stepped into the bard's chambers and dropped heavily into a chair opposite the bed Arielle was sitting on.

"I know that that woman was your friend. Perhaps I could tell you my grievances against her and you will see your friend for who she really is. Maybe then you'll know what a waste it is to spill any tear over her."

Arielle looked at the nobleman with interest which he took as a good moment to begin his story. He folded his hands and rested his elbows on his knees, taking a deep breath.

"I come from Venetia. My father was a rich merchant. He had a large fleet and traded with various regions in both Europe and the Levant. My mother was a beautiful and fair woman, the envy of half the republic. My older brother, a kind and quiet man, was already learning our father's trade. Despite the superficiality of how it sounds, we really were a happy family and my parents loved each other very much... I met Eden and her father one day. He had come to the port city to teach Eden in the ways of his trade though how a woman can be a prosperous merchant is beyond me. Nevertheless, though their stay was short, it was quite... intense."

Arielle knotted her brows at him and he smiled and shook his head at her.

"Eden destroyed my family. We were all together and happy and then your friend appeared and sent it all to hell."

"How did she do that?" the bard asked with startled surprise.

"Her father was a charming, but conniving bastard and his daughter takes much after him in that respect. He seduced my mother whom he had met when my father asked Eden and her father over for dinner one evening. My mother grew distraught with guilt and shame. Soon she grew weaker, paler, and finally died with bastard child. My father was devastated and grew reserved and gloomy. He would lock himself in his study for days on end, never leaving or talking to a soul. One afternoon, my brother found him hanging from a rope in that study. We couldn't stay in that house with so many painful memories, so we decided to settle somewhere else and start over. Yet, one morning I awoke to find my brother gone and a simple note left behind. He had left to become a warrior in some lands far to the north. My brother... a warrior... when he had never held a sword in his hands. I never heard from him again; I don't even know if he is alive. I took what I could of my inheritance and came here and started anew and alone. But I never forgot my family. With each death, I swore more solemnly that I would find the De Santi that destroyed my family... But fate is sometimes cruel and took Eden's father away from me before I had the opportunity to fufill my promise. But Eden is left. And Eden will pay the price."

Arielle looked at him in something between compassion and apprehension. She could understand that he would feel great bitterness and pain over the loss of his family, but she didn't quite feel that Eden should be blamed. And Dorian saw that in her face.

"You really don't see it, do you, you innocent thing? I didn't either, but I certainly do now. She is a snake like the one that tempted Eve and brought the downfall of man. Her father was no great mind or courageous soul. I remember all the sweet evils she would constantly whisper into his ear and that he would take heed of and act upon. My opinion of her aside, she is no idiot. And you know the piercing gaze I speak of, pinning her prey in place just before she strikes. No one receives even half of the dark reputation she carries by being kind and honorable. No, she is far from those things."

Dorian looked straight into Arielle's eyes and locked her gaze with his.

"She must pay for her crimes, Arielle." he stated in a low, slow voice that sounded as if Death was passing judgment, "I know it hurts you, but she hurt me too. She must be punished so that I may finally stop carrying this ugly cross on my shoulders, so that I may finally find peace in this life. I only want my lungs to breathe and my soul to fly one day. But that day will never come if Eden continues to walk the earth as if she was far from any sin."

And then something appeared in the bard again, that strange conviction that everyone should be happy, even if at her expense. It was the lesson that her father had drove into her with screams and her mother with tears and it was the only lesson she had ever known. It fused with her simplistic black and white view on life that she cultivated in her sheltered existence. Yes, Eden had done much for her, but the warrior had also done much against others and sins were meant to be punished and only good deeds rewarded. This was going to be her good deed for Dorian.

Arielle walked over to the crumpled nobleman and kneeled next to him, placing her hand gently on his arm. She thought that his experience must have been awful for him to turn the usually confident and brash noble into the defeated man sitting slumped in her chair.

"I understand." she said quietly.

"I knew you would." he replied, looking up at her.

He pulled her into an embrace. Arielle had longed for his arms, he had been so cold and distant since his proposal, but now the bard thought she knew why. He wrapped his arms around her. She felt something like never before- she felt like she had been wrapped in ice. She had thought she would feel warm, protected, and happy. Instead she felt like she was dying, the life slowly draining from her. It was something so very different from Eden's embrace. He thankfully broke away quickly, gave her a chaste kiss on the lips, said he had affairs to attend to, and left Arielle alone in her chambers. She looked out through the doorway and listened to his fading footsteps with a slight shiver traveling up and down her spine. I would be afraid to fall asleep in those arms for fear that I should never wake up again.

There was a great noise in the trial hall that stood quite near Dorian's manor. Rows of benches were situated on either side of the walls and filled with men and women of several different statures, families, and occupations, but all in a gossiping frenzy. At one end of the room at the top of a few small steps, there was a massive table and chairs set up where the council awaited for the prisoner. There were two men of the clergy, one representative of Venetia and a representative of Jerusalem. And in the middle of it all waited a space for the prisoner. Arielle couldn't shake the feeling that those who stood there before the council never left as free men.

The bard was sitting amongst the crowd. Dorian had wanted her there against all of her wishes, stating that a wife was to support her husband in his difficulties. When she wouldn't agree, he simply grabbed her by the arm and dragged her there by force. Dorian sat up straight, quite proud of himself, leaning over every once in a while to exchange remarks or comments with the surrounding onlookers. Arielle only wished she could invisible for that day.

The noise died down to almost a complete silence when the heavy side door creaked open and a restrained woman was escorted in by two guards. The enormous hall which could probably fit three times as many people as there were there now suddenly became stuffy and claustrophobic to Arielle. They led Eden to her place in front of the council's table and then took several paces to either side. All of Eden's armor was gone and she stood only in her black pants and boots and sandy tunic. Despite the heavy chains and shackles around her ankles and wrists, Eden stood with the same air she always did- the determined warrior who would not bow to anyone. And somewhere deep down in her heart, Arielle felt a prick of pride in the guardian.

The council member from the Kingdom of Jerusalem stood and raised his hand, demanding silence.

"I am Chancellor Randolf. I preside here in the stead of King Baldwin III of Jerusalem." he announced to everyone present, "We are gathered here in the case of Eden of Florentia, daughter of the De Santi family, who is accused of conspiracy against the Paymon family, namely murder. Furthermore, she is accused of being a demon, acts against innocent Christians and the Holy Mother Church, and of spreading heresy. Lastly, she is accused of countless crimes against the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, namely raiding, pillaging, and murder. Do you understand the charges being put forth against you?"

"I do." Eden answered in a low, calm voice.

"And how do you plead?"

"I never plead."

A shocked gasp rippled through the room at the answer and the Chancellor gave an offended look at the warrior who retained her stoic mask. He raised his hands into the air and called for silence and then slowly sat back down, glaring at Eden with disgust and contempt.

The guardian looked at her judges all coldly staring at her with a verdict already in mind. Eden knew that she had next to no chance of leaving the trial as an innocent woman and escaping death by flame. But she also knew what Dorian was really after and she kept herself focused on that thought. She knew that the trial shouldn't have been public, that she should have been given the chance to repent, that she should have been given time to arrange some sort of defense. But it was not about Dorian punishing her, he wanted to humiliate her and publicly destroy her so that even if she was by some miracle found innocent, she would want to die of shame and ridicule anyway. Eden decided to at least make it easier on herself and let the old feeling of loss and emptiness slowly creep up within her like a rising tide. It had not been all that long ago that her life had meant nothing to her anymore, but before she fulfilled her resolution, Arielle appeared and stood in her way. But now...

The bishop now stood. He was a tall and rather magnificently adorned man with a large belly and he discretely leaned on his crozier when standing.

"You are accused of heresy and speaking false evils against Holy Mother Church. One of Jerusalem's most upstanding citizens as well as several other witnesses can attest to this fact. What say you?"

Eden glared at him in all his pomp and glory.

"You can try me for my crimes against this kingdom. But none other than God may judge me for any crimes against Him."

The bishop ignored the murmur of the crowd.

"Maiden, you do realize that I have the holy right to judge you in the name of the Lord?"

"Your Excellency, you gave that holy right to yourself."

The bishop looked at her with offended, wide eyes and his face grew red in anger.

"If you have nothing to say apart from blasphemy, then maybe others will say it for you." he spat.

The bishop sat and began to read a long list of testimonies given by a great variety of people, both clergy and laymen that demonstrated Eden's wickedness. They claimed that Eden was a demon, a shape shifter, a witch. Eden ransacked and stole from churches, called on the death of clergy, defiled the Eucharist, and had on more than one occasion affronted the cross, claiming that there was no God. Somewhere in the middle of the testimonies, even Eden's conversation with Dorian in the desert about the true word of God appeared, causing Eden to shake her head slightly and Arielle to frown. The accusations seemed to drip from the bishop's lips like honey, so pleased he seemed to be burying Eden word by word. A long while later, the bishop finally finished and placed the list down.

"These Christians have given account of your blasphemous deeds under holy oath and the knowing eye of the Church. What say you now?"

"Nothing."

"So you refer to the judgment of the Church for all you have said and done?"

"I refer to God's judgment."

"Do you not serve the Church?"

"I serve God."

"Are they not the same?"

"No."

A loud gasp circled the hall mixed with a few cries of 'Blasphemy!', 'Heretic!', and 'Witch!'

The bishop unconsciously smiled, licked his lips, and looked at the rest of the council members in turn. He couldn't believe his good luck, it almost seemed that Eden was doing everything humanly possible to tie herself to the stake and light it. The council members returned similar smiles and looked back at the guardian with cruel amusement.

Yet Arielle also noticed a curious figure amongst the council judges. One of the clergy was an elderly priest, dressed in a plain, brown, hooded robe, tied across the middle with a thick, white string. He sat quietly, scrupulously observing all of the proceedings. He had said nothing, but had also exchanged no glances with the rest of the members. He seemed transfixed on the warrior, gazing at her for long periods as he rested his chin on his folded hands and seemed to lose himself deep in thought. Arielle wondered if this was some clever plot or if Eden actually had a friend amongst the judges.

The priest abruptly stood and raised his hand to silence the crowd. Everyone, including the council members, looked at him with curious surprise as if they had only then noticed he was even there.

"Do you consider yourself a Christian?" he asked Eden in a calm, objective tone.

"I do."

"Were you baptized?"

"I was."

"And do you consider yourself a part of the Church?"

"I am a part of the Church as much as it is a part of me."

"But you will not refer to the Church."

"I answered that already."

The priest sighed, knotted his brows and moved away from the large table and slowly made his way towards Eden. The guardian eyed him nervously, not knowing what he wanted, but having a deep, internal feeling that he wanted to help. The council members watched the two of them closely.

"It is your soul on trial now more than anything else." the priest explained calmly, "The sick man cannot go to the physician to ask to be healed since he is bedridden. So instead of asking for referral, perhaps the Church should take pity over it's own sick child."

Nearly everyone looked at him in confusion, most of all Eden. The priest now stood in front of the warrior, his arms crossed over his chest and hidden in his large sleeves.

"Do not refer to the Church now if you so feel. Yet the sickness must be cured, the soul redeemed. We summon you and beseech you to take heed of his Excellency the bishop and my own words and believe that the counsel that we give you is for the salvation of your soul. What is done cannot be undone, but the fate of your eternal soul rests in your hands now. If you consider yourself a Christian then why add to the ranks of Satan and be damned forever when you can simply repent and find peace in the Lord? All you need to do is confess before the Church that you have gravely sinned."

Eden felt moved by his speech. There was a warmth in the priest's face and a pleading in his words. But she knew that mere words wouldn't help her now.

"No."

"Repent!" the priest cried and flung himself on the warrior, grabbing her by the shoulders.

The whole hall burst into an uproar, so much so that no one really noticed the pair's exchange amongst the noise and agitation.

"What are you doing?" the priest whispered in her ear, "Forgo your stubborn pride."

"I'm not driven by selfishness." Eden whispered back and the priest knotted his brows.

"I am trying to save you." he implored.

"I can't be saved."

He pulled away and looked into the eyes of a woman who already felt Death's cold breath on her neck. Eden's eyes dashed to the side and the priest subtly followed them, settling his gaze on the nervous bard. He then saw Dorian's cold eyes meet his own and watched as the noble drew an arm around the blond's shoulders, pulling her closer to him with a savage grin on his face. The priest sighed heavily in understanding and turned back to Eden, his eyes sad.

"I'm sorry." he whispered.

"Don't be. You were a friend." she replied and hearing the crowd quiet down, raised her voice to complete the show, "Whatever may happen to me, may it be the Lord's doing!"

The priest retreated back to his seat, his shoulders slumped and his face defeated. He stood behind the table and looked at Eden.

"If you refuse to submit to the counsel of the Church," he said wearily, as if he had suddenly aged 20 years, "then there is nothing more I can do for you."

"Pray for me, Father." Eden said quietly, more out of compassion for the priest than her own desire.

"Prayer is reserved for those who need it, wish it, and benefit from it." the bishop interjected arrogantly, "As you refuse the help of the Church, so it will now refuse you."

The priest swiveled to look at the bishop with petrified astonishment. He moved to say something, but then decided against it. He now understood what Eden meant about not being able to be saved. And he also realized that he seemed to be the only one that was not impatiently waiting to turn Eden into ashes.

"Take her away." the Chancellor ordered and then slowly walked out of the room and hissed when passing the priest, "I'd be much more careful, old priest."

The two guards walked up to Eden and gruffly took her by the arms and began to lead her back to her cell. Eden scanned the crowd in search of the bard. She spotted her and seeing that Dorian had left Arielle's side, Eden broke away quickly and rattled up to the blond.

"Arielle, you have to get out of here. You're in grave danger." Eden said quickly.

"What danger?" asked the bard, looking at her questioningly.

"There's evil here, I can sense it. A demon..."

"A demon?"

"Please believe me." Eden urged, continually trying to shrug off the guards that had come back for her.

"Believe you? How could I if you haven't told me the truth?"

"I never lied to you." Eden stated proudly, "I just kept things in the shadows where I thought they belonged."

"Dorian told me what you and your father did to his family... Tell me, are you guilty of all these crimes?" Arielle asked in a desperate desire to make everything simple and finally go away.

"Ask yourself that question." Eden replied quietly, the hurt of the question obvious on her face.

Before either had a chance to say anything more, the guards finally grabbed Eden roughly and pushed her out of the hall, spitting curses at her along the way.

Eden heard Dorian storming into the dungeon before she saw him. He barked at the guard to open the door and stomped in while the guard lit a torch inside Eden's cell and promptly left. Eden had played this situation over and over in her mind, analyzing the best way to approach the arrogant noble in order to get the information she needed. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself when she remembered her conversation with Gabriel. Since I'm so good at sinning, then I might as well put that to good use.

"Oh, I must admit you are a clever one." Dorian hissed furiously, pacing the cell, "I saw you. You played your hand ever so well. As my intentions of marriage have been made public, it would be difficult to get rid of my sweet, little wife-to-be now..."

"Oh, did I ruin your plans? I'm so sorry." Eden retorted sarcastically.

"There's nothing to be sorry for, you conniving, little whore." Dorian snarled, stopping and glaring straight into her face, "because there is absolutely no difficulty in getting rid of you."

"Haven't I heard that before." Eden said with a roll of her eyes.

"Do you think that this all some sort of a game? I have forces you couldn't dream of."

"Forces, you say? Well, then, I can assure you that if I had my armor on, I'd be shaking in it right now."

"Silence!" he roared angrily and backhanded the warrior who nevertheless stood her ground, "I have legions that will stretch farther than you will ever see!"

"Sounds lovely," Eden continued to quip, intentionally getting on the noble's proud nerves, "especially when I see your little wife-to-be leading them all. I have to admit, Arielle does look rather good in armor."

Eden saw the absolute hate he had for her in his eyes. He was nearly foaming at the mouth in rabid disgust and he clenched and unclenched his fists unconsciously.

"Arielle?! Why in the world would that pathetic blond be anywhere near me or my forces?! I want nothing to do with that dim-witted basket of giddiness. It was you I was after and she was the best way to you." he hissed.

"It's alright. I understand that you're just jealous that she would make a better commander than you."

"How could she?! She's a pitiful woman!"

"Exactly. Hurts, doesn't it?"

Dorian yelled and punched Eden in the stomach, making her double over.

"A little sensitive, aren't we?" she coughed out.

Eden sighed internally. And so her plan had worked. She had suspected that he was really after her all along, but had to make sure. And now his blinding hate for her would turn his attention away from the bard and give the blond her chance to escape unharmed. Now she only needed someone to help Arielle get away before Dorian concocted some evil ideas against her too, but she began to think that the priest might be just the person she was looking for. And that was all Eden had come back to do.

"I want to watch you burn and hear you scream until you turn into nothing more than a pile of ashes! And then I will gather them and throw them to the four winds so that you never find peace nor your God!" Dorian howled, his face red with anger.

Eden gave him no other response than a stoic expression. And that expression remained when Dorian called for three guards to enter the cell and all of them began to beat her at the noble's command. Then her expression turned to that of pain and also resilience to not utter a sound of agony. And from the minute the clubs began to hit her to the moment the men finally left her a bloodied and battered mass on the floor, Eden thought of nothing else than Arielle. If I am to die now, may at least one moment of my pathetic existence finally be worth something.

When they were gone, all that was left was the echo of Eden's ragged breathing. And there in that corner, in the middle of a horrid night, Eden clasped her trembling hands together.

"De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine." she whispered and closed her eyes, exhausted.

Arielle tossed and turned in her sleep that night, dreaming she was locked in a cage and being prodded from the outside by laughing men with spears. She awoke before dawn, strangely frightened and with a fever.

The second day of questioning came and the whole hall broke into a frenzy when the accused was called forward and Eden was dragged in by two guards. She hung almost limply between them, hanging off of their arms, her legs hardly moving fast enough. When they stopped in front of the council, one of the guards roughly flung her down.

"Kneel, canis." he growled at her.

But Eden used all her strength to get off of her knees and stand.

"I kneel before no one but God." she announced shakily yet proudly, teetering on her trembling legs, half hunched over.

"What is the meaning of this?!" the priest cried out.

He rose from his seat and quickly made his way to Eden. He put his arms around her, supporting her and she leaned against him somewhat, hardly able to support her own weight.

"Bring her a chair!" the priest ordered.

The people in the crowd looked around at each other, each hoping that the other would do something. Finally, a young page made his way through the crowd with a chair. He placed it in back of Eden when the bishop stood.

"This woman is accused of heinous crimes against this kingdom and our Lord Savior. She deserves no gentle treatment."

"Christ ate with vagabonds and prostitutes. He was crucified with murderers and thieves." the priest deflected, turning to look at the bishop while helping Eden sit down, "Didn't our Lord say 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me'? Where is the error in simple Christian compassion?"

"This woman is a heretic!" the bishop countered fiercely.

"That has yet to be proven." the priest replied.

The bishop glared at him with fervent displeasure, scowled, and sat back down as the priest returned his attention to the guardian. She sat slumped in the chair, leaning on the arm rest. Her whole body ached and she wanted nothing more than to lie down and perhaps never get up again, but she was determined to brave the trial as best she could. The priest wanted to check how she was and began to think about how to postpone the trial for at least a day.

"Go." Eden whispered as she was reading his thoughts.

"Someone must tend to you." he countered.

"Save yourself." Eden ordered in a shaky murmur and seeing the priest's pleading look added, "Please."

The priest sighed heavily and hung his head. He slowly, yet unwillingly turned away from Eden and returned to his spot at the council's table. He folded his hands and, unable to look at Eden, rested his forehead against his knuckles and began to silently pray.

The Venetian stood and raised his hand in a request for silence.

"Eden of Florentia, you have been accused of grievous wrongdoings towards the Paymon family." he explained in a rich accent, "Yet due to the private nature of the given crimes and in an attempt to protect the good name of Paymon, yesterday evening your crimes were made known to you and you were questioned and gave testimony in the presence of two citizens of Venetia including myself and also the accuser, Dorian Paymon. Your testimony was noted and shall be made known to this council before sentence on you is passed. Venetia has no further qualms against you in this trial."

Eden said nothing and the Venetian sat back down. Then Chancellor Randolf stood and began his questioning of Eden in the name of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

"Do you admit to raiding, pillaging and murdering innocents in desert villages and towns as well as pilgrim trains, escorted or not?" he thundered in the hall, reading from a paper.

"I admit to raiding and pillaging, but I killed no innocents." Eden answered as strongly as she could.

"Why do I think you're lying?" he chuckled with contempt.

"Honestly, I don't care what you think." Eden spat out weakly.

"Well, you should. You'll go straight to Hell for your crimes and lack of repentance."

"Well then why do I think I'll find you burning down there along with me for this farce?"

"You insolent, blasphemous-"

"Do not say something that might be deemed... beneath you, Chancellor." the priest suddenly interrupted, raising his head.

The Chancellor glared at the priest, huffed loudly, and then returned his attention to Eden.

"We have testimony to you murdering Christians at the request of Saracens."

"That would mean those witnesses were there with the Saracens and so are as guilty as I presumably am."

"We have testimony to you murdering innocent men and women as well as armed men posing no threat." the Chancellor continued, his voice becoming angrier as the warrior deflected his questions, "You killed Templars and Hospitallers who were defending pilgrim or merchant trains in the name of the Lord. There is also testimony of you killing children-"

"I have never killed a child!" Eden howled in pained anger and then slumped in the exertion it took and breathed heavily as her cry echoed through the hall.

"That's only what you say and your word doesn't seem to be worth much."

"Words, noble Chancellor, are rarely ever worth much."

A mumbled shock spread about the hall again. Randolf waited until it quieted down.

"Are you the one who fought under the banner of the warlord Karas?"

"Karas didn't have a banner."

"But you did fight under his command, isn't that true?"

"I fought alongside him." Eden admitted unwillingly.

Randolf took a deep breath and folded his arms over his chest, letting the silence fall and the tension in the hall rise.

"Are you the one who was called Zauba'a by desert dwellers and infidels and known as the Black Watcher in the West?" he asked loudly with a vicious smile and when Eden was quiet he added, "Answer the question!"

"I was... once." she admitted quietly.

A large wave of shock ran through the hall and the warrior made the painful realization that her past would now tangibly follow her wherever she went and to the end of her days. Death suddenly seemed a much more peaceful option.

"You were given the right to speak for yourself and admit your wrongs. Now may others speak of what they saw." the Chancellor announced haughtily.

Randolf motioned to the guards standing by the doors and one by one, witnesses attesting to Eden's heresies trickled into the hall to give their testimony and then quickly leave. They seemed to stream in from far and wide as if it was a great festival they came for. They swore on the Bible that Eden did all the things she was accused of and more. Eden said nothing about either the truths or untruths that were said about her. She tried to block out the verbal and physical pain by letting her mind wander to daydreams of walking through forests of dark green, soft moss underneath and babbling rivers close by. The birds sang and the trees swayed in the wind and the sun filtered through them, leaving dancing shadows on the ground. And Eden simply walked and walked and walked, knowing that it wasn't true what Arielle had once said- she wouldn't have been chasing a rabbit with her sword, but she would be lying on the soft moss, peaceful and content, looking up at the sky and guessing the shapes of the clouds.

Arielle's fever had kept her away from the trial, a thing that Dorian was secretly grateful for. Yet, the havoc her fever and stomach were reeking on her made her uneasy and she finally threw the covers back and got up. She dressed with shaking hands and walked to the hall alongside Aldric. When he arrived with breakfast on a tray, the steward had told her that witnesses to Eden's killing would be called forth that day. What made Arielle get up was the fact that Aldric had asked to testify with his story and was denied.

Before reaching the hall, Arielle could already see a long string of people coming and going from the proceedings. She wondered where all these people came from and how all of the deeds they were supposedly witness to could be done by Eden alone. 'Something isn't right in all of this.' echoed in Arielle's mind. And the suspicions came true when she suddenly saw Alys appear. Without a single thought, the bard suddenly hid behind a large column, waiting for Alys to pass by.

"Aye, I tell you," Alys was saying to another woman walking beside her, "I got five gold pieces just to say I seen it all with my own eyes, swear it on the Bible, and then scram. Five gold pieces!"

"The same as me! 'Twas just tavern talk I heard." the woman said, "I ain't seen a thing at all!"

"I ain't really seen nothing either! But five gold pieces from that Paymon fellow! 'Tis my lucky day!"

The bard felt her stomach sink precariously as a helpless anger rose within her, seeing more and more clearly that the trial was a farce. She grew pale enough for Aldric to notice and absolutely insist on Arielle returning to her chambers. She was too sick to her stomach to argue and the steward accompanied her back.

The bard's fever lifted around the same time Eden's proceedings had ended for the day and she was taken back down to the dungeon. Arielle paced back and forth, her mind turning more than her stomach, both letting her know that there was something inherently wrong. She grew frustrated over the fact that no matter how much she thought, debated, and analyzed, she couldn't find the culprit though her heart kept screaming that there was one. But there was one person who would know.

At first, Aldric didn't want to hear of Arielle visiting Eden. It was against Dorian's wishes and if anyone caught either one of them, they would be the next to stand trial. He also had heard of Eden's beating, but had said nothing to the blond, wanting to spare her the pain. But Arielle was adamant and seeing the genuine anxiety and pleading in her eyes, Aldric finally gave in. Fortunately, no one knew the manor like Aldric did and he knew off a secret corridor that actually led from the trial hall to Dorian's dungeon. He thought for a while about how to slip them in and out without detection. He finally came up with a plan and the two slunk off and down to the dungeons, avoiding the guards' posts that Aldric knew so well.

"My lady, I must warn you." the steward started as he led Arielle down the steps to the dungeon with a torch in his hand.

"I've seen a dungeon before." Arielle snapped slightly.

They were both nervous, Arielle so much so that she had trouble descending the slightly damp, stone stairs.

"No, it's not that, my lady." Aldric said, stopping before the turn that lead to Eden's separate cell and turning to face her, "It's Eden. She was a little... handled."

"Handled?"

Aldric only swallowed and nodded. Arielle's face tensed and she didn't want to ask any more questions, but only to see the guardian immediately. Aldric saw how upset and uneasy she was and said no more, swiftly leading her around the corner and to Eden's cell. He opened the door and walked in, placing the torch in its hold on the wall.

The faint light illuminated a dismal picture. A lump of human lay crumpled in the corner of the cell, her head leaning against the wall, her wrists and ankles laden in iron shackles. Eden was covered in welts, cuts, bruises, blood, and dirt; she looked like a figure from hell. Arielle's knees gave out at the sight and she was face to face with the guardian though there was very little of Eden that still resembled a human face. One eye was black and blue and swollen shut, the other had a cut on the eyebrow and was caked in blood. Her lip was cut in two places. Her hair, covered in dirt and blood and matted with the damp of the cell, clung to her head. Arielle gazed at her and amongst all that havoc and hurt on her face, she found the small, pink mark she had left when she slapped her. She felt like a dagger had just pierced her heart and took a sharp breath.

"My lady, are you alright?" Aldric asked in concern and was relieved when the bard nodded, "The sight is terrible..."

The bard held out her hand to lightly touch the mark, yet at the nearing warmth Eden's eyes suddenly snapped open and were looking at the bard with fear and suspicion.

"Ssh." Arielle whispered nearly breathlessly.

Eden didn't move or speak almost as if she was petrified and they simply looked at each other with heavy, armed gazes, each trying to guess the other's intentions.

Arielle tried to touch the mark again and this time Eden finally moved herself back in distrust, a faint moan escaping from her throat at the pain moving caused her. It was almost like the bard was meeting the warrior for the first time again. No, no, no, please no. Arielle remembered how she had struggled to at least get the warrior to stop darting her eyes away and flinching with every gaze or touch the bard gave her. And now it all seemed to have vanished as if nothing had ever passed between them. The realization settled heavily on the bard's shoulders; she had turned her back on all that she herself had tried to drag out into the light. Are you lost to me now? Are you gone forever?

But the bard wouldn't turn away now because there was something in her that the warrior had pulled out from beneath. The blond didn't break her gaze, trying to show her something that the warrior was trying to see; the someone Eden had once known. Arielle tried again and again Eden shirked away. Arielle wanted to resign to defeat. She wanted to get up and leave. She wanted to escape, to run away from all the pain, the burden, the guilt. But she didn't move this time. Her mind tried to pull her up and away, but her heart stood firm, beating almost wildly in its effort, pushing her hand out.

Arielle reached out one more time and this time Eden made no movement and the tips of the blond's fingers grazed the mark. The bard smiled a sad smile, stroking the mark lightly, needing to touch Eden, comfort her, help her. Eden looked into Arielle's eyes and saw that deep forest green that she thought she would never see again. Arielle's hand moved further and cupped the guardian's cheek in her hand and Eden let out a defeated whimper like a broken child and it brought Arielle's heart to the verge of shattering. Eden heard two tears fall to the stone floor, their echoes rolling over her ears like the distant whispers of a promise.

"Don't cry." the guardian stammered out in a weak, raspy whisper that seemed so unlike the strong woman Arielle knew.

Arielle tried to smile, but it cracked when a sob finally broke through.

"Oh, my dear Lord, what have I done?" she asked in a pleading tone full of guilt, "I wanted... I just thought... If maybe I could... My goodness... God, my selfishness has broken my friend... my only friend... Eden, I won't even ask you to forgive me because I know you won't. If it was only my failing, my cross... but my blindness will now lead to your death... Oh my God, Eden, I'm so sorry..."

Arielle began to cry into her own hands, shaking her head at her mistake. Neither said a word until Arielle heard the shackles shift and she looked up at Eden, catching the warrior's gaze.

"No need." Eden rasped, like so many times before.

"Oh, Eden," Arielle whispered softly, her voice cracking, "How many times are you going to kill yourself for me?"

Eden said nothing, but the bard caught a brief flash in her eyes that told her that as many times as needs be.

Arielle leaned in and was so close to the warrior's ear that their cheeks almost touched. The bard could almost feel the hurt radiating from the warrior's body and she could smell the blood and dirt on her broken skin.

"I won't leave you here." the blond whispered almost silently, but the words made Eden suck in a painful breath.

Arielle arose and motioned for Aldric to follow her. They felt hurriedly and made their way down the long corridor quietly when a shadow suddenly appeared before them.

"My lady?"

They both stood still in surprise and Arielle almost forgot how to breathe. Aldric finally took a bold step forward and thrust his torch into the face of the shadow and Arielle saw the face of the priest appear.

"Father?" the bard asked in wonder.

"My lady, you are just the person I was looking for."

The next day, the council called forth Eden to finally pass judgment on her. Arielle sat tensely, nervously wringing her hands in her lap. Dorian sat next to her and placed his hand on hers and it made her jump.

"I am so glad you could be here to witness this day. Be proud, my little blossom. You've given the greatest gift you'll ever give your husband." he hissed coldly in her ear, giving her a few gentle pats.

Arielle said nothing and only watched the pompous look start to drain from Dorian's face as they continued to wait for Eden's arrival. After several minutes, one of the guards finally entered the hall and announced that the prisoner was gone.

The whole hall was thrown into a frenzy. The council members demanded an explanation and wondered what to do next, Dorian grew first pale and then red with fury and the crowd began to leave in a hurry, afraid that Eden might be among them and intent on bloodthirsty revenge. Dorian snarled at Arielle to go to her chambers, which she automatically did, giving a surprised gasp at the events and then letting the havoc ensue without her. She rushed to her chambers, opened and closed the door, and leaned against it, breathing heavily.

"My lady."

"Aldric? What are you still doing here?" Arielle said in surprise, "You have to leave."

"No." Aldric countered, "I'm your personal steward and it's my duty to stay."

"If they find out-"

"They'll find out much quicker if I ran now." he argued and then took a deep breath, "Eden told me to protect you, my lady. And I have no intention of doing anything different."

When she heard Eden's name and realized that the guardian hadn't stopped thinking of the bard's safety and despite everything still watched over her, Arielle felt a large lump rise in her throat and she threw her arms around the steward. Aldric caught her in a completely stunned confusion.

"My... My lady?" he stuttered.

"Aldric... I'm scared." she whispered.

"My lady..." Aldric said in a gentle tone, searching for the words, "I don't know what to say... It will all work out, you'll see... Eden would never leave you here to a wicked fate, my lady... And if all else fails... remember you still have me and my sword."

Arielle pulled away from the steward and smiled at him warmly.

"You will make a gallant warrior some day, Aldric."

He hung his head shyly as a blush crept up his neck and over his face.

Yet, the morning turned to afternoon and then to evening and all was relatively normal. No guards came pounding on the door, no enraged Dorian came in. The bard and steward went about their duties, but kept an open ear out and an attentive eye open. Aldric had heard that the search had proved fruitless and that the council had no intention of waiting around and departed to their other duties much to the dismay of both Dorian and the bishop. But where the council and trial guards had given up, Dorian was determined to have his revenge and took his personal guard with him in search of Eden.

Aldric was escorting Arielle up the stairs and down the corridor to her chambers when Dorian and his steward suddenly appeared and the noble shouted out the blond's name. They both turned around holding their breath and watched Dorian stomp over to them. He told Aldric to leave which he did immediately, silently praying that the noble did no harm to the bard.

"You must have thought I was a fool." Dorian snarled, grabbing Arielle around the neck, "You must have thought you were exceptionally clever, you conniving wench."

Arielle tried to tear herself from his grasp, but he was too strong and he only dug his fingers into her throat more. He stretched out his free, left hand to his steward who handed him a large piece of fabric.

"But, tell me now, who gets to drink the honey, busy little bee?" he growled and then shoved the fabric in Arielle's face.

The bard looked at it and slowly began to recognize it. It was a cloak. It was Eden's cloak. It was Eden's torn, bloody cloak.

The blond suddenly forgot about the hand choking her and her trembling fingers unconsciously ran over the cloak, feeling out the tears and violent slashes made in it, watching the still moist blood stain her fingertips.

"No..." she whispered frailly, "You didn't..."

Arielle began to shake as Dorian's smile widened and he let go of her. She looked straight at him.

"Where is she? Where is she?!" she said in a wild mixture of fear and anger.

"Probably at the fiery gates of the Hell she was going to anyway. I wanted to see her burn. But you decided to let me kill her instead. Needless to say, I am ever so grateful, my dear bride."

Arielle's eyes widened in horror as the words sunk in. She felt her legs grow soft and she slowly slid down to her knees in complete disbelief. Hadn't I tried to save her? Hadn't I tried to right my wrongs? Was I too late?... Tears formed in her eyes and rolled silently down her face, falling to the floor in a rhythm of remorse.

"Oh my sweet," Dorian drawled coldly, looking down on her, "do not despair. You gave your future husband more than he could have ever wished for. It is the greatest proof of your love. And I hope you never forget it."

The words struck Arielle's heart like a spike of cold iron and she found it hard to breathe. The echo of Dorian's laughter as he walked away rattled her bones. The stillness she suddenly felt chilled her soul.

After a while, Arielle slowly gathered up the cloak, walked quietly back to her room, and sat down in the darkest corner of it. She held the cloak, turning it over and over again absently in her hands. She remembered being wrapped up in it when they were caught in the rain. She remembered when Eden had bought it and how they argued over the color, she remembered how Eden had looked in it, so majestic, so... Tears welled up in the bard's eyes and she buried her face in the cloak.

"You once said that I had nothing to be frightened of because you were beside me... I am so frightened now..." she lamented into the fabric.

And there in that corner, in the middle of an empty night, Arielle clutched the cloak with all her might as she felt her heart finally crack.

* From the depths I have cried out to you, O Lord.

canis- dog

Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews, they mean a lot to me and I really love reading them and I look forward to more:)

I know this chapter is a tad long, but it just wouldn't shorten any more, the stubborn thing;)