Not Giving Into Fate

15- Day of the Trial, part 2

I get out of the witness chair and walk towards the stand as my cousin and Lady Horla walk to their prospective areas. I nod my head to each and sit alone on the stand. I look around and make eye contact with Elric who nods ever so slightly. It comforts me and I face forward as soon as I hear my lawyer speak.

"Lady Horla, can you recount the 14th of this month?" My cousin asks.

"Yes," Lady Horla nods. "I was on my way to see the magical flowers where I met up with Master Solon and we saw them together. We later walked around and talked, but we ended up getting lost. A man started to follow us then we got cornered by him. He pulled out a weapon and started aiming at us and yelling how he wanted to hurt us in different ways. Master Solon was so brave, even though she was hurt, she stood in front of me and made a barrier around us, but he attacked us. Soon we were saved by a soldier who fought against the man, bound him and led us out of the Underbend and to an Imperial soldier."

Lady Horla spoke quickly, saying her story as quickly as she could like she did not want to remember the day. I pity her, wondering if that's the worst experience she had to face, and it's a very public occurrence.

"Can you identify the two men? The one who hurt you and the other who saved you?" My cousin asks. Lady Horla proceeds to identify the two men. I look to the fake Sir Pine, wondering why he isn't the one showing his face. He has a face- changing rune and refused to be on trial. However, I can't think more on that since my cousin returned to sit next to me and the defendant started to question my new friend.

"Lady Horla, how long have you been friends with Master Solon?" The lawyer asks which illicits a tense jaw from me. I don't know where he's going with this. I turn my head ever the slightest to see my cousin, but no emotion rests on his face. I copy him.

"Not that long. But-"

"So you followed a stranger around which ended in a dangerous situation." He muses.

"Objection, relevance?" My cousin speaks up. The judge pounds his gavel and tells the defendant to be specific.

"My point is, you do not know Master Solon. She could have planned to lure you into the Underbend and you may have faced another unfortunate coincidence. Everyone knows how the Lady acts in public. Why would you trust her? Maybe she forced you to-"

"You're wrong!" Lady Horla shrieks and her face goes red. She makes eye contact with me and her eyes start to water. "She's just shy and quiet! She's actually very observant and kind, she speaks gently and when she speaks everyone stops to listen. I may not have been friends with her for long, but we've been in the same social circle and I have observed her for a long time. I cheered for her achievements and tried to teach myself to be like her. I've admired her for years!"

I still at her words, at the earnestness and truth behind her words. She turns redder by the end of her speech and her puppy- dog eyes are bulging and her lips are pulled into a pout to prevent herself from crying. "She's a good person who is just quiet and the rumors about her are all wrong."

I smile at Lady Horla's words and whispers from above me stir the air. I place my hands over my chest and bow just the slightest, showing my respect towards my friend. I have never heard such kind words spoken of me. The lawyer says he has no other questions. Lady Horla rushes to my seat and I hold her hands, squeezing them and giving her a wide, closed- lipped smile.

I look away and wonder why they chose such a horrible lawyer to represent the family. They both take their seat and I listen to the judge tell Count Masik to take a seat. I watch as he stands stiffly, eyes lowered and shoulders hunched to look pathetic. When he sat down, we made eye contact.