ᴅᴀɴᴅᴇʟɪᴏɴꜱ ( 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 )

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪɢʜᴛꜰᴜʟ ᴅᴇᴄɪꜱɪᴏɴ

OPHELIA OPENED THE DOOR a confused expression resting on her features as she raised an eyebrow at the person outside the door.

It was one of the council members, Elder Jenna who stood firmly with her back straight and an emotionless face, like a woman on a mission.

"You have been called to the council to discuss the new developments," The old lady said, darting her eyes to the Baudelaire parents, eyeing them disapprovingly.

Diana and the Baudelaire parents shared looks as all of the group followed her to the courtroom, their feet crunching on the grass as they did so.

Ophelia walked alongside the Baudelaires who were in front of the adults as Elder Jenna was in the lead, with the children following and their parents behind talking in hushed whispers. Ophelia furrowed her eyebrows trying to hear what the adults were talking about but to no avail.

Ophelia's cheeks heated up as her hands kept brushing against Violet's gently, but the pair didn't say anything as they focused on hiding their flaming cheeks from each other.

They reached the council and the Baudelaire parents were placed on the stand all of the villagers took their seats and Mr Poe did as well.

"As we all know recent developments have taken place," said Elder Sam, eyeing the Baudelaire parents. "And we are here to discuss them."

A hand was raised in the air as Elder Sam nodded at the person approvingly. The man in the plaid pants stood up, with an annoyed look on his features.

"Does this mean the Baudelaires no longer do the village chores?" He asked as the crowd murmured and exclaimed.

"Man, I liked having someone do chores for me."

"Well, that's not fair at all."

"I have a sore back you know."

"Silence," ordered Anabelle slamming the grovel at the podium as she glared at the villagers agitated.

"As we know," continued Elder Jenna. "Rule number 432 states that no person can come back from the dead."

Ophelia narrowed her soft blue eyes at Elder Jenna, perplexed. 

"They broke the rules!" said Mrs Morrow yelled gleefully clapping her hands excitedly. "Let's burn them at the stake!" The villagers murmured in agreement as Ophelia's face began to turn pale.

Violet stood up, refusing to entertain the notion of someone harming her parents. "They didn't break rule 432 as they were alive this entire time." She said fiercely.

The crowd began whispering to themselves as they begrudgingly agreed with Violet.

"Silence!" ordered Elder Anabelle. "The eldest Baudelaire has made a valid point," She said nodding at her as Violet proudly sat down. Ophelia held Violet's hand and smiled at her before flickering her gaze to the Council of Elders not seeing Violet stare at her with a soft smile for a second too long.

"As we the villagers of VFD are already the guardians of the Baudelaires, it is up to us to decide whether or not we will allow the Baudelaires to go with their parents."

The Baudelaires shared worried looks with Ophelia. Would the villagers really not let them go with their parents? What would they do if their parents had to leave them?

A woman with a polka-dotted apron stood up, a grimace on her face. "If their parents are alive why keep the children with us? I don't like these murderous children. I don't want them cluttering up my home."

Mrs Morrow stood up, a grin adorning her features. "They murdered Count Omar--"

"Count Olaf," Klaus muttered under his breath.

"I say we burn the kids and the parents at the stake," Mrs Morrow clapped her hands excitedly as the villagers whispered among themselves.

"Silence," ordered Elder Anabelle, slamming the gravel on the podium with a certain glint in her eyes that made Ophelia feel severely uncomfortable.

Worry gnawed at Ophelia's stomach as her concerned blue eyes darted between the Baudelaire parents and the Baudelaire children. The Baudelaire parents didn't seem concerned at all, looking at the Council of Elders with a slightly lazy expression.

Diana stood up with a furious expression on her face. "They didn't murder Count Olaf, that man was Jaques Snicket! And also, Jaques wasn't murdered by the Baudelaire children but by Count Olaf!"

The villagers began again murmuring with each other. But they quietened before Elder Anabelle could slam her grovel again.

"If that is the case, where is the real Count Olaf?" asked Elder Sam with an eyebrow raised.

"He is being taken into custody, in another town," replied Diana. Ophelia raised an eyebrow at her mother, as she felt joy fill her. 

The Council of Elders, now whispered among themselves as they grew into a heated debate.

"We will decide this with a vote," announced Elder Jenna as she called a person. The person brought out a square box with a slit of a whole on the top.  Every one of the villagers of age was given small slips of paper.

"Those in favour of the Baudelaires leaving write yes and those in favour of them staying write no," said Elder Sam as the villagers were handed some pens as well.

There was pin-drop silence except for the scribbling of the pens on the slips of paper. Ophelia exchanged worried looks with the Baudelaire children, dreading what was about to come. What if there were more votes for the Baudelaires to stay? What if the Baudelaire parents were forced to leave their children or worse burn at the stake? 

The last villager finally put his vote in as Ophelia leaned forward in anticipation, wringing her hands together in nervousness.

They counted the votes, the votes for yes and no and both the clear boxes slowly started filling up. Each villager put their pieces of paper through the slits of the box one by one and took their respected seats again.

Worry, nervousness, and overall fear consumed Ophelia.

The Council of Elders started counting the votes and Violet slipped her hand in Ophelia's and Ophelia squeezed it reassuringly. Sunny shared a knowing look with Klaus who let out a tiny smirk.

"The Baudelaire children will be....." trailed Elder Sam as he counted the last vote. The children leaned forward in anticipation. "Leaving with their parents."

Ophelia sighed in relief as the others did the same.

The villagers murmured, some in agreement while others in disagreement.

"They are criminals!"

"Thank god, I wouldn't want them near me."

"Why can't we burn them at the stake?"

The Baudelaire parents got off the stand and everyone got out of the town hall, whispering and murmuring as they crunched the dirt beneath them.

"Will you be staying with us for a little while?" Diana asked as she smiled at her mother.

"We will be leaving tomorrow as it's getting dark," replied Bertrand as his eyes stayed on the sun that was setting down. The orange, yellow and red hues blended so perfectly together creating beautiful scenery.

Ophelia felt a little sad at the prospect of possibly never seeing the Baudelaires again. But she forcefully put a smile on her face as the Baudelaires grinned from ear to ear.