Falling for a Warden

Part 10 Judgement

"For judgement this day, Inquisitor, I must present Captain Thom Rainier. Formerly known to us as Warden Blackwall," Josephine announced, her voice tight.

Adaar could feel her heart breaking as they marched him into the hall in chains. He was a mere shadow of the man she had once known.

"His crimes...well. You are aware of his crimes," Josephine continued. "It was no small expense to bring him here but the decision of what to do with him is now yours."

Silence. Everyone in the hall was staring either at her, or at him, waiting to see what she would do.

"I didn't think this was going to be easy, but it's harder than I thought," Adaar admitted.

Blackwall kept his eyes downcast. "Another thing to regret."

Then he mentioned the man, the man they had switched him out for. Why did the guards have to tell him? Adaar had seen no other way to safely free him from both his prison and his past.

"I accepted my punishment," he continued, looking straight at her. Adaar found it difficult to meet his eyes but she forced herself to remain strong. "I was ready for all this to end. Why would you stop it?"

Because I love you, idiot. Adaar bit her tongue.

"What becomes of me now?"

Silence. Adaar stared at him, at his kind, sad eyes and she no longer cared what the soldiers might whisper behind her back. Let them talk.

"You have your freedom," she finally proclaimed.

"It cannot be as simple as that," Blackwall said, his eyes downcast again.

"It isn't," Adaar admitted. "You're free to atone as the man you are. Not the traitor you thought you were or the Warden you pretended to be."

"It will take time. You'd accept that?" And what I used to be?" He took a step closer and Adaar could feel her heart flutter. "I lied about who I was but I never lied about what I felt." Adaar wanted to take him into her arms and kiss him. She had already accepted his past, she had accepted it long ago, even before she knew the details.

Another step closer. "No matter what I was or what becomes of me. Right now, I'm just a man with his heart laid bare. I leave it in your hands."

"I don't know where we'll end up," Adaar confessed, meeting his eyes again, "but I'm willing to give us a chance."

He shook his head and Adaar's heart stopped. "I don't know how to be with you as Thom Rainier," he admitted, lowering his gaze again.

She stood up and moved to the edge of the stairs, her heart pounding. The court was forgotten. Only Blackwall was real. Only he mattered. "We'll figure it out," Adaar almost whispered.

"Together," Blackwall confirmed, banishing the last of her fears and doubts. Slowly, surely, he climbed the last few steps until he stood level with her. Adaar smiled, leaning down and closing the distance between them. His lips were as soft as she remembered them. Laying her arm on his, they broke apart, the clinking of chains the only reminder of the events that had almost torn them apart.

He retreated down the steps, his eyes never leaving hers as an Inquisition soldier approached and removed the last unsavoury reminder from his wrists.