The room crowded with people, more Lords and Ladies than Gildeon had ever seen before at one time. Queen Reece would smile and nod to almost all of them, turning to Gildeon and saying, "That one's Lady Frero, and Lord Dobley," or "That's Madam Chere and Sir Marmal." The jury flourished in and piled into their seats, and lastly the guards led Wes Rinder into the room. He looked so pitiful with his dirty rags that were extremely to big for his scrawny complexion. Sargeant Emino led him in with an old, sharp rope that was looped around his neck rather tightly. He had scraggly plain brown hair, but his eyes were deep and soft.
Gildeon stared at a large rip in his shirt, where she could count his ribs. It looked as if he could barely stand, the way he stumbled into the room. Sargeant Emino jerked the rope fiercely as Wes fell to the ground, laying there for a second. When he failed to get up, Sargeant Emino screamed, letting all hell break loose. "What the hell is wrong with you boy!? Get up! NOW!" He jerked the rope, forcing Wes to stand. Emino shoved him into the old wooden chair, as Gildeon sat uneasily, trying not to show her pity for him.
'Why do I feel so sorry for him?' Gildeon asked herself, as she stared at him cautiously. 'He's a dirty peasant. He tried to steal from my parents.' But her thoughts were sliced by Lord Rinaldi, who stood up and said in a deep, casual voice, "Wes Rinder, who is charged with theft and attempt to murder is standing before us this day. Each witness and defendant will get their chance to speak but in the end it will be in the hands of the jury. Let the trial begin."
Sargeant Emino was the first to speak. He stood up professionally, cleared his throat, and read from a scroll that had recorded every theft he had attempted.
"78 noticed loaves of bread missing from the baker. Attempt at stealing two horses from the royal stables. One hat from the weaver, 14 total pairs of fabric shoes..." The list went on and on. "...And attempt at murdering 3 royal guards in an attempt to escape a crime scene." Silence pinged across the room, as everyone turned to Wes, then looked at Gildeon as she cleared her throat. She stood up, made firm eye contact with Wes, peering down on him. "What is your explanation to this?" she snapped. She tried to show fury in her eyes, hoping it worked.
"It-it wasn't my fault." Wes choked out, as Sargeant Emino made the rope around his neck a little tighter. "I was forced t-to." Gildeon's eyes widened as Wes continued. "My family had no money. We were just beggars, we were starving. I couldn't let my mother and my sister die from hunger so I stole what I had to for survival. I started out working for my money, but when no money came in, my father forced me to start stealing. You aristocrats don't know what it's like to be threatened with death by a parent. My father was willing to kill me if I didn't bring home food at the end of the day. I had no other choice."
Lady McEnvely stood, no pity in her eyes, or in her heart. "Food is one thing. But why were you willing to steal TWO white horses from the King and our dearest princess?"
Wes took a deep breath in, and Gildeon could see all his ribs moving. "There was a man. A man who has already been caught and murdered. But he was willing to pay for locks of horse hair. With the kind of money he was willing to pay us for these horses, we would never have had to steal again. So my father sent me to steal them. And sure enough I was caught. I knew I couldn't get past the royal guard, but I had to get home to my family, which is why I had to try to kill those three guards. It didn't work, but I got home to my mother and sister, but brought a loaf of bread home, which was the only reason my father didn't kill me then."
Gildeon's heart boomed with every explanation. She couldn't believe a parent would be willing to kill their son. Maybe he was innocent after all. Maybe if she could convince the queen to give his family money to live, they wouldn't have to kill this boy...
Questions were flying at Wes, but he always gave a humble, innocent answer. Finally, when there were no more questions to be asked, King Reece stood up, and declared, "We will now let the jury decide Wes Rinder's fate." He sat back down, as Gildeon swept over to the rest of the jury.
"I think he's innocent," Gildeon whispered.
"Guilty!" Lady McEnvely barked. "The boy is a thief!"
"He's innocent. Rin, what do you think?"
Rin had been dreading this moment. He wanted to go along with Gildeon, but when he saw his mother's snake-like eyes staring at him, he said hurriedly, "Guilty."
Gildeon looked ready to cry. "Rin, what if your mother or father were going to kill you if you didn't do something?"
He shuddered. Because his mother was going to kill him if he didn't so something. He wanted to shout 'innocent!' but he knew his life would be over if he did. "He's guilty. I'm sure the rest of the jury agrees."
Points were argued back and forth. Innocent, guilty, innocent, guilty, innocent, guilty...
But in the end, Rin stood up, silenced the room, and declared, "As of this day, Wes Rinder is found GUILTY. He shall be hanged with an arrow through his head in five days, the day of princess Gildeon's sixteenth birthday."
Gildeon jumped back, stunned. She felt her face turn red as tears formed in her eyes. 'He's innocent,' she thought, but no one would agree with her. She couldn't hold back the salty tears that were pouring down her face as she took one look around the room and bolted out the door.
Everyone stopped and stared at the doorway, as whispers spread around the room. "What's going on?"
"I don't know. Does the princess know him?"
"She just upset she didn't get her way."
"I think he's innocent, too."
"He's guilty. Guilty!"
An opinion from everyone in the room burst out, arguments, even a punch or two was thrown. But King Reece's voice boomed above the rest. "Guilty. My word is final." He got up and escorted the queen out of the room as murmurs and whispers were still spread. "Case dismissed!"
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Lady McEnvely found Rin, who was swearing and cursing under his breath, in his room. "Oh, Rinaldi, you made me so proud today! You never gave in to that greedy priss!"
Rin looked at her, his eyes full of confusion and fury. And if you know anything about confusion and fury, it's that they never make a good combination. "Mother, he was innocent! Innocent!"
Lady McEnvely looked stunned. "What did you say!?"
"INNOCENT! I'll say it again! INNOCENT!"
"Rinaldi! You will tell no one of your real opinion. He is going to be hanged! Now, so you don't change your mind, go to Wes tomorrow night in the dungeon. And make him join our cause. Also, Rinaldi, you made Gildeon cry! Not that hard to do, after all she is a spioled brat! But she ran out of the room crying because of you! So make things right with her! Is that so hard to ask?"
"Mother, my heart broke in two when she started crying today and ran out of the room-"
"What? You damn idiot! I knew you would fall in love with her!"
"I'm not in love with her-"
"Your heart broke in two?"
Rin looked at the ground and sighed. "Okay, I love her. I can't see her get hurt like that."
"Well, you're going to have to get used to it! And, Rinaldi, one last thing."
"Yes, mother?"
"Do you think I will look better with a gold crown with rubies or a gold crown with emeralds on my head?"
'You would look better with an gold arrow through your head.' he thought, but simply stood up and walked out of the room, his mother still snickering to herself behind him. He had questions that would never be answered, he had dreams that would never come true. He had a love that would last no longer than five days. And he had a mother that would never be defeated...
What a life for a Lord.
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WELL...I suppose that wraps up chapter 4!!! Thank you to all my viewers, and I would love to read my viewer's stories!!! SO COMMENT!! Tell me whatcha think and tell me about your books!! I promise to read and leave my input!!! Also...check out my fans!! They're wonderful!!! Well, be watchin for chapter 5...hakuna matata!! :D
-Bubbles