Chapter 96 I don't own Merlin. Italics= latin/emphasis, bold=spell/mindspeak
"Your Majesty, the Court is convened and waiting for you." Adenora said curtseying as well as she could as she walked in and closed the door.
"Help me with the fastenings, Addie." Cassie told her, turning around and letting her friend tie her dress up. "Thanks."
"You look very beautiful, my Lady."
"And you look tired, have you gotten enough sleep?" Cassie asked, looking at her friend closely.
"More than you. Did you get any?" she asked, smoothing the pleats of her friend's gown and walking with her to the vanity to help her tame her hair.
"An hour, two at most." Cassie answered with a sigh, putting down the brush and staring at her reflection in the mirror. "Will you and Gildas stand by my side?"
"Of course. Come, it's time." she said with a soft smile, looking out the window at the slowly rising sun.
The two women walked into the throne room after the herald announced them, standing on the raised dais and looking out at the people gathered around.
"Damas y Caballeros. Señores, Señoras, la Corte ha comenzado." Cassie called out, swallowing hard and clenching her jaw as the doors opened and she saw the line of people standing blindfolded. Cassie spared a glance to Gundemar and GIldas, who just smirked at her and looked back down the aisle.
"Traigan al primer prisionero!" Cassie ordered, sitting down regally on the throne and watching as the guards marched in the first of the mercenary soldiers. They had him kneel down in front of her and Gildas' eyes glew as he removed the spell.
"Está acusado de formar parte de un golpe de estado, usurpar el trono, y violar a virgenes. ¿Cómo se declara?" Miro read out, handing the scroll to the Court Scribe and looking at the man.
"Inocente. Voy donde me pagan. Mi lealtad recae en el dinero, no en ningún rey. No he hecho nada ilegal."
"Hay pruebas que demuestran lo contrario?" Cassie asked, looking at Didacus for an answer.
"El soldado ha hecho solamente lo ordenado. Pero lo ha hecho con gusto, y ha ido más allá del alcance de sus deberes."
"Aclare." Cassie told him, looking at him as he squared his shoulders and spoke.
"El hombre es de los soldados que encontraba a niñas jóvenes para Witerico. El y los suyos se aprovecharon de ellas después de que Witerico terminará con ellas."
"Que tiene que decir al respecto?"
"Hice lo que me pagaban, disfruté cuando terminaba con ellas."
"¿Siente algún remordimiento?"
"No es quien para decirme lo que debo sentir."
"No me deja otra opción. 2,000 tremíses serán pagados a la Corona y seis años encarcelado. ¡Próximo!" Cassie said, nodding for him to be carted off as the other six soldiers were brought in, given the opportunity to defend themselves and sentenced in accordance with the law.
"Que entre el siguiente." Cassie said, taking a deep breath and ignoring the ringing of the great bell that signalled lunch four hours later.
"Está acusado por usurpar el trono, participar en un golpe de estado, alta traición y espionaje. ¿Cómo se declara?" Miro asked, looking at Gidie as he knelt in front of the throne.
"Culpable." he said after three minutes' contemplative silence.
"Tiene alguna defensa?" Cassie asked him, looking at him closely.
"La misma que le di anoche. Tómela o déjela."
"3,000 tremíses serán pagados a la corona, 2,000 al Duque Garsea de Toledo. Ocho años de encarcelación."
"No me va a matar?" he asked, staying on his knees as the guards tried to drag him up.
"Me dijo que tome o deje su defensa anoche. La tomé, y pagará por sus crímenes." Cassie answered. "Pero no pagará con su vida. Llevéselo al calabozo. ¡Próximo!"
"Está acusado de usurpar el trono, cometer herejía, masacrar a los ciudadanos de esta ciudad, alta traición, violación, sodomía, la usuria, sedición, soborno, avaricia, mutilación y espionaje. ¿Cómo se declara?" Miro pronounced, waiting for him to answer before asking him again. "How do you plead?"
"Defiendase, Mstivoj." Cassie told him lowly as he knelt there and stared at her with a challenging gaze.
"Repito, ¿como se declara?" Miro said once more, looking to his Queen for directions.
"Mstivoj, si no se va a defender, lo único que puedo asumir es que es culpable. Diga algo."
"Yo no hice nada. Ni usurpé el trono, ni violé a nadie. No entre a esta ciudad hasta después que todos murieran, y no soy un espía. Y no soy un hereje." he said, declaring the last slowly as he stared into her eyes. "No como usted, Reina."
"¿Dice que no es un hereje?" Cassie asked, something clicking in her mind.
"Eso mismo." he answered, smirking at her.
"Quítele la camisa." Cassie ordered looking at the guard and nodding. "¿Eso no es un trisquel?"
"¿Y?"
"Es la marca de los druidas. Es un hereje, se ha perjurado. La única manera que supo cómo, cuándo y dónde entrar a esta ciudad fue por acto de espionaje. Sé perfectamente que el horario de los guardias era secreto y variable. Simplemente observando no se podía acertar el horario. Traicionó al Rey y soberano de este reino."
"No me puede acusar de traicionar a alguien al cual no le tenía lealtad, Reina. Tampoco me puede acusar de usuario y soborno." he replied, spitting out her title venomously.
"Eso no es verdad, tenemos pruebas del soborno." Didacus interrupted, glaring at the man.
"¿Cómo se declara por el cargo de sodomía, Mstivoj?" Cassie repeated, her temper close to bursting as he knelt there and stared at her coolly.
"¡Respondale a la Reina!" Miro commanded, going forward and slapping him across the face, to which he just laughed darkly and spit out blood.
"¡Miro! ¡Suficiente! Si no se quiere defender, será declarado culpable. Tenemos testigos y evidencia en su contra. No hace falta el castigo corporal." Cassie declared, standing up and walking towards him with her head held high. "Lo encuentro culpable de los crímenes de herejía, sodomía, usurpación del trono, espionaje y la masacre de la ciudad. Lo declaro inocente de alta traición." Cassie told everyone, turning to go back to the throne and sitting on it. "Dejaré la decisión de por qué crimen ejecutarlo a usted; herejía, espionaje, usurpación o masacre."
"Mateme como quiera." he told her, smirking as she floundered to keep her face blank.
"Mstivoj, solo puede morir una vez. Será ejecutado por el crímen de herejía. Será atado a una pica y apedreado hasta la muerte por los ciudadanos. ¿Tiene algunas últimas palabras?"
"Yo diría que se joda, pero soy un sodomita, no me importa lo que haga." he said with an evil smirk, not taking his eyes off her as the guards dragged him up and out of the room.
"Are you okay?" Gundemar asked quietly, watching as the last of the prisoners was dragged in.
"Yes." Cassie replied curtly, locking eyes with Witteric as Miro spoke.
"Está acusado de regicidio, infanticidio, asesinato, asesinato en masa, alta traición, adulterio, conspiración con un hereje, conspiración para derrocar al monarca, usurpación del trono, robo, violación de un menor, violación de una virgen, avaricia, soborno, mutilación, la sedición, el chantaje, la tortura, la usura. ¿Cómo se declara?"
"Culpable." he said, chuckling with madness. "Quiero que me mate usted, Princesa. Quiero que mi sangre corra por sus manos."
"Su sangre correrá. Pero no por mis manos. Todos escucharon, se declaró culpable. Lo sentenciaré a la muerte. En medio de la noche, una lenta exanguinación. Solo, sin medios para salvarse, sin nadie que lo oiga gritar. Morirá como los cientos de personas que murieron por sus acciones. Y nadie lo llorará." Cassie said, nodding to a guard. "Llevelo al calabozo. Se pueden ir, el tribunal se ha terminado."
The moment the heavy doors opened to let the courtiers out of the throne room, the Usurper King's mage burst in and shot an arrow right at Cassie's face, watching the trajectory with a gleeful expression.
"Aah!" the ladies of the court yelled, running against the walls in fear and trying to keep out of the way as the Queen's eyes glew golden and the arrow stopped mid flight.
"Está muerta! Forbearne! Ácwele!" he yelled, his eyes glowing golden as he conjured up balls of flame and threw them at her unflinching facade. His energy ran low as he saw one that stopped and dissipated with a thought and soft golden eyes. At that point Gildas stepped in front of his young friend and tied her adversary up with a flick of his wrists.
"¡Fuera!" Cassie yelled, watching the courtiers and visiting dukes look at her in fear before reluctantly leaving the room.
"Ic for-" he started to chant, his words muffled as Cassie silenced him with a word.
"Forswige."
"Usó todo su poder con el ataque de fuego." Cassie told him, standing up and walking towards him, her eyes glowing as she felt his weak magic getting stronger in his hand. "Ah ah ah! No puede hacer nada. Lo voy a dejar hablar. Lo voy a dejar defenderse. Pero no se equivoque. No intente atacar. Hay cuatro magos y dos personas muy talentosas con la espada." Cassie said, waving her hand and saying, "Geborhfæstee. ¿Quién es?"
"Me llamo Abel."
"¿Por que me atacó, Abel?" Cassie asked him, looking down at his hand in wonder.
"Es mi deber proteger a mi Rey."
"¿Porque?"
"¿Como que porque? Me sacó del hueco donde vivía. Me dio una oportunidad. Se la estoy pagando como pueda. Algo que ustedes nunca hubieran considerado."
"¿Que hueco?" Cassie asked curiously.
"Un pueblo pobre y con gente que me dejaba al lado aguantando hambre."
"¿Cómo aprendió a usar magia?"
"Mi padre. Antes de morirse."
"¿El anillo?"
"Me ayuda a recobrar fuerzas. Sin él no puedo ni prender una vela." he said reluctantly, glaring at her obvious use of magic in his truth.
"Sabe que hizo el ex-general? Contrató a un mercenario y sus druidas a que entren a media noche y-"
"Como ustedes?" he interrupted her, scoffing and narrowing his eyes.
"No. Witerico envió a cientos de personas a la muerte; hombres, mujeres, niños. ¿Sabe lo que es ver a tu sobrina de seis meses desangrarse? ¿Ver su rostro tan pálido como las sábanas en las que estaba envuelta? Witerico contrató a los druidas para que se infiltraran en la ciudad en la oscuridad de la noche y mataron hasta la última persona que pudieron encontrar. Tomaron su sangre y bailaron desnudos bajo la luz de la luna después de bañarse en ella." Cassie said softly, letting her tears fall freely in front of him, letting him see all the pain she'd tried so hard to hold back. "Yo entré y simplemente capturé a mis enemigos. Los únicos Muertos tuvieron su defensa en la Corte."
"Eso no puede ser-"
"Lo fue! Lo fue, y lo vi, y desde entonces me escondo la noche de la luna llena, le temo a cualquier druida que encuentre. Ese…demonio me robó de mi inocencia. Y luego dio la vuelta y cuanta niña se cruzaba se la robó a ella. Su…. rey no fue nada más y nada menos que un villano sin corazón, sin brújula moral y usted no hizo más que ayudarlo en su reino de terror!"
"No sabía." he said in a quiet voice, looking at her with an open mouth.
"Cuando estuvo…trabajando por Witerico, que hizo?"
"Espié personas, hice unos cuántos hechizos."
"Mató a alguien?"
"No." he said, his jaw clenching as he considered the words she uttered.
"¿Torturó a alguien?"
"Lo sostuve."
"Tengo que sentenciarlo." Cassie said, gently taking his hand and removing the ring he wore. "Diez años encarcelado. Se le devolverá el anillo después de que termine su sentencia."
"Entiendo." he said, looking at the floor in sadness and shame as he pictured a lifeless baby.
"Guardia! Llévelo al calabozo. No puede hablar con nadie." Cassie said, letting go of him and watching as the guards took the prisoner away.
"Cassie, are you okay?" Gundemar asked softly, handing her a handkerchief and nodding at Gildas and Addie to leave them alone.
"Come with me." she said, avoiding his gaze and nodding at Miro to follow her.
"Conoce el palacio mejor que su hermano." he commented as soon as he closed the door on the torture room.
"Witteric is not to be killed. You will imprison him, give him only the bare minimum of food for his survival. No one is to know about this," she told them seriously, looking between the two.
"Where are we going to do that, my Lady?" Miro asked her, looking quickly at Gundemar.
"I will make a room."
"What did you promise the mage?" Gundemar asked her quietly.
"After his sentence is over, he gets his ring back. It was his father's and it's all he has left."
"He's dangerous."
"He was fooled, knew nothing about what Witteric did."
"How can you be sure?" Miro asked her.
"The same way I know you're thinking my brother would have sentenced them all to a public execution and not gone soft on them." Cassie said, looking into his eyes. "I read his mind."
"My Queen, I meant no-"
"Miro, we can think whatever we want to think. I may have been soft on them, but those mercenaries, despicable though they may be, are better off incarcerated and paying restitution. The only ones who truly deserve to be executed are just those two. Mainly because we cannot find the druids to try and execute them." Cassie said, stopping him from apologising once more.
"What shall I do with the prisoner in the meanwhile? We cannot have him there for everyone to see."
"Bring him here."
"To the torture room?" he asked, looking at her warily.
"Where he will be tied up until the room is made." Cassie said. "I'm not a ruthless tyrant. But he should suffer the way I have!" Cassie said passionately, letting her tears fall down in front of them.
"Princess." Gundemar said softly as he wrapped his arms around her slight frame, letting her cry into his arms as he looked at Miro and nodded for him to leave. "Your sentence for him is a fair one. Lex talionis. If you change it, imprison him, it shouldn't be like this. Consult your advisors."
"You are my advisor." Cassie said, letting go of him and stepping back with an embarrassed look on her face. "What should I do?"
"Your sentence was fair. He will pay for his crimes with the same. Cassie, the trials were fair, the sentences just. Move on." he told her gently.
"I can't do this, Gundemar. Everyone looks at me like I-" Cassie said in a choked voice, tearing up and cutting herself off as Miro walked in with Witteric.
"Perra débil." he spat, smirking at the tear stains on her face.
"Don't! Miro, don't." Cassie said, stopping him with a soft hand as he went to slap him hard again. "Tie him to the slab. Place a trusted guard outside the door. Once night falls, send for the executioner and puncture his skin strategically. Tell him to make sure he bleeds out slowly but surely. Just like the people did almost four years ago." she said, changing her mind as Witteric walked in with that despicable smirk.
"Cassie? I thought you-"
"I changed my mind, King Gundemar." Cassie quickly cut him off, leaving the room and the presence of that swine.
"Cassie, come, get some rest. You look tired. I'll tell Gundemar and he will take care of it." Gildas said, catching up to her and speaking softly.
"No, I have other things I need to take care of. I'll sleep tonight." Cassie said, squaring her shoulders and looking out the window. "I need to find the guard that took those two girls to their home. And I need to find the cook's daughter."
"What can I do to help?"
"Nothing. I'm fine. Go be with your wife. She's seven months along, she needs you." Cassie said, kissing him on the cheek and bidding him goodbye.
"Mi Reina, ¿que hace aquí?" the guard asked a few minutes later, watching her as she walked closer to him.
"Lo estaba buscando. Las dos niñas que llevó a su casa anoche, ¿se acuerda donde viven?"
"Sí, quiere que la acompañe?"
"Sí, gracias." she said, smiling sweetly at him and following close by him.
"Que pasó? No me diga que-" the mother said with wide eyes as she saw the guard and his company a while later, backing up and holding her daughters close behind her.
"No, todo está bien. Quería… Quería asegurarme de que ustedes estén bien." she said softly, looking at the two girls who looked so much happier than they had the previous night. "Puedo pasar?"
"Si, mi Reina." the woman said, shaking her head after staring open-mouthed for a while.
"Gracias." Cassie said, nodding at the guard to stay outside as she lowered her hood and entered their small house. "Quisiera disculparme por todo lo que sufrieron a las manos de Witerico."
"Alteza, no fue su culpa. Fue ese monstruo." the mother said, offering her some water and apologising for what little she had to offer her daughters' saviour.
"De todas maneras, quisiera ofrecerles alguna forma de compensación. Por favor, diganme que les hace falta."
"Un trabajo juntas." the mother said with a watery smile. "El hombre las compro, pero no me dejaba verlas y no las dejaba salir. Me las arrebató, dijo que si no se las vendía, moriría. Solo quiero estar con mis hijas." She pleaded, her voice thick with emotion.
"Les conseguiré algo." Cassie said, taking the mother's hand and squeezing it. "Witerico ha sido sentenciado a la muerte. Cuando amanezca mañana, va a estar muerto." Cassie added, looking at the two girls softly. "La pesadilla se acabó."
"Gracias, su Alteza. Ya habíamos perdido toda la esperanza." the youngest one said in a small voice, looking at her hands in her lap. "Nos hizo abortar a un hijo."
"Ven." Cassie said softly, sitting beside the young girl and wrapping her hand around her shoulders. "Sé todo lo que duele perder un hijo. Aunque sea de alguien tan despreciable como lo fue. Pero no es el fin del mundo. Enamórate, consigue un hombre que quieras y forma tu familia con él. Intenten olvidar lo que les hizo." Cassie told them, standing up and smiling at them. "Hablaré con la encargada de las doncellas. Tal vez les consiga algo en el palacio."
"Gracias, Reina Casiopea. No sabe cuánto le agradezco lo que ha hecho." the mother said, stopping her from leaving. "Me devolvió a mis hijas. ¡Me devolvió mi vida!"
"Tarde demasiado. Si no me hubiera ido…"
"Majestad, nadie la culpa. Créame." the woman said softly, curtseying as Cassie walked out of the room and lifted the hood over her face.
"¿Sabe donde vive la hija de la cocinera?" she asked the guard as soon as she was out of earshot of the three women.
"Si, por aquí, sígame, Alteza." the guard said, letting her walk forward and leading her closely.
"Puedo regresar sola, no se preocupe por mi." Cassie told him, watching him as he hesitated before bowing and walking away.
"¿Quién es?" the woman asked as she opened the door a sliver, looking at the figure in the hood with fear.
"Soy la Reina Casiopea. ¿Me deja pasar?" Cassie asked, her voice soft as she peeked around the door.
"Majestad." she fumbled, opening the door even further and stepping aside with shaky hands. "¿Que quiere?"
"Anoche retome la ciudadela y arresté a Witerico y Mstivoj. Abel se enteró después de los juicios y me atacó. No tuve remedio, tenía que arrestarlo y sentenciarlo."
"¿Lo va a matar?" she asked, tearfully, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No, estará encarcelado durante diez años. No puede tener visitas los primeros cuatro. Pero va a necesitar comida. Tengo entendido que es la hija de la cocinera. ¿Trabaja en las cocinas?" Cassie asked her, looking at her carefully.
"No. soy lavandera."
"Pida un cambio a las cocinas. Llevele la comida a su esposo." Cassie said softly, taking her hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "Y no le diga a nadie que le dije esto."
"Gracias, Alteza." the woman said, holding back her tears and giving her a watery smile.
"Ven conmigo, te dejaré verlo una vez más. Dentro de diez años, podrán estar juntos." Cassie told her, standing up and grabbing her amulet.
"Como?"
"Con magia, ven conmigo." Cassie said softly, smiling as the woman took her hand and sniffled.
They walked quickly through the crowded city, keeping to the edges and avoiding the people as they did. Cassie led her through the full palace, pressing close to the wall every time guards or soldiers passed through, the people completely chaotic.
"Me parece que la buscan, Majestad." she whispered, clutching her hand tightly in fear.
"Tranquilicece." Cassie ordered softly, taking her down the stairs towards the dungeon and walking past all the cells. "Ic ia tóspringe."
"¿Quién anda ahí?" Abel asked, looking around in wonder.
"No le puede decir a nadie lo que estoy haciendo. Le daré unos momentos, despidanse por ahora." Cassie said, letting go of her and talking quietly to them, walking over to the cells beside them and making sure the others couldn't hear a thing.
"Where have you been? We've been looking for you all over." Gundemar asked her as soon as she walked into her chambers.
"I had some things I needed to do. Has the executioner been called?" She asked, evading the question.
"Cassie, you don't have to-" Gundemar sarted, watching as she filled a goblet with wine.
"I'm Regent, Gundemar. Until tomorrow, when he's dead and I can formally abdicate the throne. I have to see this through." she said, downing her goblet of wine in one swig.
"You don't have to abdicate, you know?" he said as she walked to the door and started to open it. You're a great Queen. You care about your subjects."
"Gundemar, I-I don't know what to do." Cassie said, hanging her head and wiping away the tears, keeping her back to him.
"You do, Cassie. These are your people, this is your home." he told her softly, putting his hand over hers and closing the door. This is where you belong. You are meant to be Queen."
"It's not my destiny." Cassie said breathily, staring as he leaned down and smiled softly.
"We're never truly meant to know our own destinies, Cassie. This is yours." he told her, looking into her eyes. "Abilio and Duke Garsea need to go back to their cities. They'd like to dine with you later."
"Accept the invitation for me. I'll dine with them after I make sure the executioner goes through with it." Cassie told him, backing up and avoiding his gaze nervously.
"I will, Princess." he told her, bowing lightly and walking out of the room, but not before giving her one last wistful glance.
"Mi Reina, el verdugo está aquí." Miro said, entering the council hall where the dukes were all gathered and awaiting their dinner.
"No es necesario esperarme para empezar. Sigan, mis Señores." Cassie said, nodding to them all and regally following Miro out the door towards the execution room.
"Reina Casiopea, no era necesario que usted viniera ."
"Miro, soy Reina. Es parte de mis responsabilidades. Yo lo sentencié, yo debo estar presente para que se cumpla." Cassie said, stopping in front of the door. "Nunca he entrado aquí."
"Cassie, si no quiere…"
"Esto no tiene nada que ver con lo que quiera o deje de querer. Estoy lista." she said, taking a deep breath and steeling herself.
"Majestad." the executioner said, bowing low and awaiting her instructions.
"Su muerte debe reflejar los crímenes que instigó. Miro, muéstrele sus cicatrices al verdugo." Cassie ordered, turning her head slightly as Miro bowed and slowly rolled up his sleeves, keeping the disappointment from his face. "Cortéle las muñecas, los tobillos; haga cortes a lo largo de su cuerpo y asegúrese de que sean lo suficientemente superficiales como para matarlo lentamente. Pero no tanto como para que cierren."
"Como ordene, Majestad." the man said, bowing and unsheathing a big knife, cutting off Witteric's shirt and slicing short and shallow on his torso and abdomen. Cassie stayed until the executioner wiped his blade and sheathed it, the smell of blood permeating the room and making her nauseous as she saw it slowly flow out of him. "Regresaré por la mañana y le avisaré al General cuando muera. No se puede mover, no se puede escapar." she declared, whispering the last part as a promise to the person she'd come to hate.
"Sus servicios ya no son necesarios." Cassie told him, nodding at the executioner once he was satisfied the cuts all over his body were indeed mortal to leave and staying in the room with Miro and Witteric. "Usted trajo esto sobre usted mismo, morirá solo; sin nadie que lo llore. Adiós."
"Es muy valiente, mi Reina." Miro told her, stopping her from moving farther along.
"Miro, si te pregunto algo, ¿me dirás la verdad?"
"Si, por supuesto. Lo que quiera."
"¿Piensas que me debería quedar?" she asked him in a vulnerable voice, her eyes shining with tears.
"Pienso que es una Dama muy justa, una guerrera muy feroz, y una mujer buena."
"Pero no soy Reina, ¿verdad?"
"Es muy joven, mi Reina. Con experiencia y tiempo será mejor que su hermano."
"No crees eso." Cassie said sadly, taking a deep breath.
"Cassie, lo creo. Te conozco desde que naciste, has cambiado mucho en el año que llevamos viajando, en el tiempo que viviste en Bretaña. Eres fuerte, eres noble, y sabes gobernar mejor que algunos." he told her firmly, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Quedarte o no, es tu decisión."
"Gracias, Miro. Siempre fuiste un buen amigo."
"Casi no nos hablamos cuando eras una niña." he said with a chuckle.
"Siempre fuiste bueno conmigo, Miro. Disculpe, debo entrar." she said when they arrived at the doors.
"Mi Reina." he said, smiling and bowing his head respectfully as the others stopped speaking and stood up, their chairs scraping on the stone floor to welcome her back.
