3rd Achtus, 2718
VIENDA COURTHOUSE | MID MORNING
Charity smiled at the sound of her newly forged name. Mrs Charity Valentin. It was strange to hear it still, so fresh in its combination, but curiously it also felt right. As though it was her name all along, just waiting to be discovered. Damen would not be happy, but they had done it for so many reasons, and his happiness was definiely not one of them. The legality of which man owned her, by the aged customs of Anaxi marriage, which man held her land and properties should she have them now fell to Rhys. In another time, another world, perhaps it would be an offence to think of it like that. But here, now, it was a win for them. A way to ensure the court couldn’t use that in favour of the D’Arthe captain.
The current brunette galdor didn’t focus on that though. Her heart swelled with the name, because after more than a decade, Charity had finally married Rhys. It had been a dream since they were children, a lost fantasy as teenagers, and a bittersweet desire as an adult. Now it was reality, and the petite pianist let it herald the start of a new life.
Nodding, she laced her arm in his, keeping her head down and violet eyes on the path before them as they passed by the vultures and lollygaggers. It was foolishness to think that privacy would be granted on such a bleak day, but it was Vienda, and it wasn’t every day a Seventen took his Captain to court. Even more so, the story was far more exciting than reporting on the latest shoes fashion, a flame for the proverbial moths. She huddled closer to the man she now called husband, trying to ignore the catcalls and questions, feeling the eyes almost boring into them both from the officers who had come to support her pathetic excuse for a father.
Once inside, Charity lifted her gaze to the Constable, offering a quick smile of thanks and a nod of understanding. Her eyes swept to Rhys at Hours last comment, before glancing up at the stained glass windows with a deep breath and a long slow exhale.
“It will be yes. Somehow.” She agreed quietly, before turning her eyes to the doors of the court itself as they swung open. A tall pale gentleman nodded to them both, his lips a hard line and green eyes full of self importance.
“This way, to the defendant’s seats, Mister and Mrs Valentin.”[/color] He said sharply, waiting by the door with a gesture to their places. Inside the court consisted of a long room, with seating on either side and a balcony above the right hand side for the jury. On the left, Rhys and Charity would be guided to sit, and on the right glaring at them with seething hatred was Damen and his support. The older Bastian’s crisp blue eyes followed the duo as they crossed the room to their seats, focused on Rhys with a tangible hatred in his field. The pianist removed her cloak, folding it in her lap and sitting with a nervous swallow. Damen’s gaze swung to her, looking over the dark of her hair with a disapproving shake of his head. The man beside him, a younger officer with ginger hair leaned over to whisper in the Captains ear, causing them both to chuckle at some private commentary.
“He’s not scared at all, is he.” She stated quietly, looking away from the black dressed man to her hands in her lap, settling her field as best she could. It was clear her father expected this would be his playground. His win. As people began to file in, the seats on the right were filled far more than the ones on the left. Haines would be there, and Hours when she could get in. Any other of Rhys’ defense would also be there. In the center of the room was a long frame, and at both ends contained a chair, ready for witness questioning by the prosecution or defendant. At the front of the room was a large throne-like seat, with four flanking two a side. On the left sat Commander Morde and Captain Haines, on the right Captain Redden and Deputy Chief Lars. As the jury took their final seats in the balcony above, and gawkers peered in through the open door, the attendant pushed them back and shut the doors tightly. A movement caught the young womans eye, and she watched as High Judge Azmus slipped his way in to sit just behind Damen.
“Quiet! Quiet in the court!” The green eyed attendant shrieked, looking around the room with his field bristling, daring anyone to challenge his words. The murmuring of people talking settled into an almost eerie silence, before he cleared his throat.
“Rise for the Honorable Low Judge Ogden.” He announced, sweeping his arm towards the seating at the front. From a side door, the hunched man entered, dressed in official Anaxi government robes and a thin weasely mustache. He made his way to the large chair between the four official court witnesses and sat with a frown, seedy eyes looking around the room as he settled himself in the chair.
“Be seated.” He said gruffly, drawing a pair of spectacles from his pocket and taking a piece of paper from the attendant. Looking over the paperwork, Ogden didn’t bother to lift his gaze as he nodded to the man. Turning on his heel, the attendant called out again in a grating voice.
“The court is in session, for the matter of Valentin vs D’Arthe.” He yelped, taking a breath to read the charges.
“Rhys Valentin calls into question, the good name of Damen D’Arthe, father of Charity Valentin nee D’Arthe and Co-Captain of the Patrol Division of Vienda.” Charity’s eyes couldn’t help but flick to Damen, as her new name was announced. There was a moment of barely veiled shock, before the Bastian lifted his blue gaze to her own, darkening with rage. The vein in his temple throbbed, Gods she could see it from here, and from behind Azmus leaned forward to place a hand on the Captain’s shoulder, muttering something in his ear. Damen scowled, nodding slightly before tearing his eyes from his daughter, dampening his field as it ebbed with fury.
“Per charges raised, on the 32nd of Yaris, Mrs Valentin presented at Mister Valentin’s with injuries consistent with a physical assault on her person. Her written testimony states that Mister D’Arthe did attack her, with intent to murder. Noting, Mrs Valentin also advises that she has suffered attacks by the hand of Mister D’Arthe more than once prior to this occasion. The prosecution seeks to have Mister D’Arthe placed into arrest and stripped of his Seventen snaps, for the abuse of position and physical harm on another galdor. The defense seeks to appeal these charges under the claim that these testimonies are not factual, and are a woven story by the defendant in a ploy to sour Mister D’Arthe’s good name with intent of personal gain.” Pausing for what could only be considered dramatic effect, the man looked around the room before he continued.
“The court calls to the stand Baelish Stantson, council for the prosecution. Mister Stantson?” He gestured to a short man with dark auburn hair and golden eyes, who stood from his place on the left with a cut nod. Approaching the stand to face the Judge, Mister Stantson placed his paperwork on the frame and clasped his hands behind his back.
“Prosecution calls to the stand, Miss Odette Grey.” A small young woman, with mousy brown hair and scared wide eyes was brought from the side door and seated in the chair before the judge, facing the council. A wave of murmuring rose from the room, and either side of her two magisters hovered, fields bolstered threatening. The word was clear as a bell over the din.
Passive.
“Silence in the court!” Low Judge Ogden barked, before giving Baelish a look.
“Is this a joke, Mister Stantson?” He asked quietly, causing the short man to shake his head quickly, rocking on his heels.
“Not at all Honourable Judge. Miss Odette is an eye witness, per the statements from Mrs Valentin.” Turning his golden gaze on the passive, Baelish nodded to her.
“Miss Grey, would you please tell the court what you witnessed whilst in the home of Mister D’Arthe?” Odette twisted her hands together nervously in her lap, looking first at Charity then at Rhys, before glancing at Damen for a second. Her fear was tangible, and she quickly turned away from him, swallowing hard.
“I saw Master D’Arthe…he used his fist against Miss D’A—Mrs Valentin. He brought her to the ground, sat down on her, and began to hit her a lot. I was scared, I thought he might…he was so angry I thought he might kill her. I stepped forward and he pushed me, and I fell. Mrs Valentin escaped, and I was disciplined.” The members of the court muttered their opinions as Baelish raised his finger and spoke louder.
“But this isn’t the first time, is it Odette? You’ve seen this before yes?” The young passive nodded slowly, knowing that each word was her own death sentence should her protection be removed.
“I was assisting Mrs Valentin in the bath. Master D’Arthe insisted on entering, even though my lady was unclothed, and when allowed in he grabbed her around the throat and held her before tossing her across the room.” Charity blushed, her violet eyes brimming with tears as the passives words brought all the memories painfully to the surface, years of abuse untold here and now but flashing in her minds eye. She squeezed Rhys hand, field flexing with anger and grief. How had it gone on so long? How had she let it?
“No further questions for the witness Honourable Judge.” Baelish said, picking up his papers to take a seat. From the right, a man, further on in years than Damen himself with greying auburn hair and sharp blue eyes stood to take the stand. He held no paperwork, instead tucking one hand in a pocket and looking around at the court with a scoff.
“Defense council Thomas Lauderson. Ladies and gentlemen, are we to believe the testimony of a passive in this most prestigious Anaxi court of law? Are we to trust the word of a woman that the mona itself refuses to acknowledge? The word of a woman who has all good reason to slander the name of this good man?” His hand swept to Damen with a laugh, looking up at the jury and over at the Judge.
“What passive wouldn’t jump at the chance to take down a galdor, let’s be honest here. They are dangerous, a timebomb in waiting. I personally find offence that we’ve allowed her to be here at all, is the safety of the people no longer a concern here?” Ogden raised his brow in warning, before Thomas offered an apologetic smile.
“Honourable Judge, good people of the jury, I implore you to see through this charade. Passives will do whatever it takes to escape the harsh truths of their lives, bitter and jealous of our superiority. What good reason would she have not to collaborate on Mrs Valentin’s story? I imagine there’s a nice place for her in the lady’s own home, I mean, by all I’ve heard the two women were close. Her story is most likely a fabrication to support the entire lie that Mister Valentin has built to destroy this poor man’s reputation.” Pausing, Thomas looked at Odette and waved his hand.
“No questions for the witness, your Honour.” He said with an air of distain, making it clear that he placed no value on her story. Lifting his eyes to the left, the greying man smiled with all the welcoming grace of a banderwolf.
“Defense calls Mrs Charity Valentin to the stand.” The pale pianist took another deep breath, looking at Rhys for a moment before moving to place her cloak on the seat and approach the stand. Her eyes stayed on the floor, before lifting to look at Thomas, and around the room. Swallowing her nerves and fear, Charity curled her hands into her lap. The blue eyed council gave her a small bow.
“Mrs Valentin, I congratulate you on your very recent marriage.” The court hummed with quiet murmurs, before Thomas continued.
“Tell me, have you known Mister Valentin long?” Charity nodded, wetting her lips and speaking up.
“Yes. We were contemporaries in Brunnhold together.” The man nodded, shifting to put both hands in his pockets and looking around the room again.
“Ah yes, and I understand during this time, you and Mister Valentin were friends. Even though the records show that he was rather…rebellious as a child. Your father, knowing that Mister Valentin was not a good person, forbade you to see him is that not right?” The blonde frowned, looking at Rhys for a moment.
“Y—yes but..”
“And is it true that regardless of this, Mister Valentin continued to pursue you? I understand he purported stealing you away to the Stacks, and continued to groom you for more than friendship.”
“What? No that’s—”
“And then all of a sudden, when you are brutally attacked in Roalis by unknown hooligans post a theater production, Mister Valentin found you. How very coincidental that it just so happened to be him, instead of one of the other on duty patrols.” The murmurs continued, and the greying man found his stride.
“Further from this evening, you Mrs Valentin were lured into a sense of security that Mister Valentin was some sort of hero for you. Clearly, you conducted some sort of relationship, given the fact you are both now married. Now, you appeared, according to Mister Valentin, on his doorstep just days after the end of the riots of Yaris. You were beaten, and bloodied. We have it on good authority that whilst the riots were over, there was still infighting in the streets. Is it not possible, Mrs Valentin, that you were never in fact assaulted by your father and actually attacked by one of these ruffians? Prior to these claims, there are no recorded charges from yourself about your fathers so called abusive history, not even this perpetrated bath incident the passive girl claims to have seen. If Mister D’Arthe had indeed been physically abusive, there would be statements and records. All we have is a flimsy story and a clear motive by Mister Valentin to brainwash you into marriage for his own personal gain. Mister D’Arthe has a substantial amount of money, and you yourself have a rather lucrative component of this family wealth. It is known that Mister Valentin was the child of a farm owner. An Elmonton boy with little to his name. Let the court hear that this union between Mister Valentin and Miss D’Arthe as she was previously known would have been most benificial for Mister Valentin.” The muttering had now become all out conversation, the attendant calling for quiet as Thomas shot Baelish a confident smile and nodded to Rhys. From the seating, Damen smiled like a shark, his blue eyes hard. Charity shook her head, panic in her field and violet gaze turning to Rhys.
“Quiet! I will have quiet in my courtroom!” Ogden boomed, his voice magically supported by a quick spell so it carried to all ears. The talking hushed, and he adjusted his glasses.
“Thankyou, Mister Lauderson.” He said sternly, before looking at Baelish over his spectacles, inviting the man to question Charity himself. The short galdor stood, straightening his jacket and approaching the stand. He looked at the young not-blonde with a small smile.
“Mrs Valentin. Why is it, you have never reported this acts by your father?” The council asked gently, clasping his hands on the wood before him, encouraging her with another nod. The petite creature stifled the tears that had come, dabbing at her cheeks with a kerchief.
“I was afraid Mister Stantson. Afraid for my life. My father is a Captain of the Seventen, and his word is far more powerful than mine. I was frightened that if I reported him, he would find out and he would…he would kill me.” It sounded so lame and feeble in her ears, but there was nothing else to it. Baelish nodded, looking at the Judge.
“No further questions, Honourable Judge.” Charity slipped from the seat, coming back to Rhys side with a quiet sob.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered, feeling any chance of success slipping through their fingers like water. Her field felt heavy, laced with defeat and fear, as they awaited the next part of the trial.