Chapter 13
“I think it will be much like your human trials on Earth,” Alexander said to Yvette two days later. It was the morning of the trial, and she was nervous. They had gone to Armand, who agreed without a fight to attend. He was arriving momentarily, and she desperately wanted to see him. She hadn't been down to the jail at all to see Thomas, knowing that her heart couldn't take it.
She hated herself for it, for she knew that he must be going through hell down there. Ariel had assured her that Alexander's diminished strength was due to fifteen years of exposure to the most powerful carapace on Earth, and then several attacks from a group of them at once. The jail for a few days would do nothing to Thomas that his body wouldn't repair the second he stepped out of the cells.
“His crimes will be presented, and he'll have a chance to defend himself. Peter will hear the evidence, and then decide on the verdict.”
“Which might be death?” she asked, almost afraid to speak.
“It might be,” he answered. “You do not want that? Even though he tried to kill you.”
“I don't,” she said.
“Have you told Peter this?”
“No,” she looked up at him in surprise “I mean, not in so many words. He is king, and I don't want to sway his verdict with my emotion. I know he will be just.”
Alexander smiled at her.
“You sound like a queen already. And you will make a great one.”
“So, you heard,” Yvette replied. “I didn't know that he was telling people. I mean, I don't mind. I just thought we were going to wait until all of this was over.”
“Announcing the marriage of a king is more than a casual conversation,” Alexander said. “He had to tell us, by law, and we had to approve.”
“Oh,” she replied. “And?”
“Of course we approve,” Alexander said. “Did you think otherwise?”
“Thank you,” she blushed.
“You will be my sister, Yvette, and I couldn't be prouder. Now,” he cocked his ear. “I believe Nicholas has returned with Armand. I hear the commotion. Shall we?”
“Please,” she followed Alexander down the hall, her heart in her throat.
As soon as she saw Armand, she threw herself at him.
“I'm sorry,” she sobbed. “I'm sorry.”
“Yvette,” Armand's calm, gentle smile overtook her. He bent down to her level, looking her in the eye. “None of this is your fault.”
“But you know what might happen to him,” she said. “And it's all because of me.”
“It is not because of you,” he answered. “Thomas has always had a difficult heart. And as a parent–well, at least a parent figure–we do the best we can. But ultimately, there is free will.”
“Yes, and Thomas did not exercise his well,” she replied. He gave her a hug.
“Show me,” he said. “Show me where you have been living, for it has been a long time since I've been here.”
It was a moment of normalcy, a moment of happiness in the dark day. She showed Armand where she had taught Peter, where they had sat on the windowsill, and where her rooms were. He noted that they were conjoined with Peter's, but he said nothing, waiting for her to tell him.
“We thought, when this is all over,” she said. “I don't know how long after. I guess it depends how it goes.”
“I am happy for you,” he replied. “And I'm sure Evelyn will be as well.”
“Oh, you have to come,” she spoke before she thought. “That is, if you will still want to.”
“We would be honored,” he said, and she gave him one last hug. They only had an hour before the trial, and she wanted to savor this moment. But eventually, she let him go.
“You'll want to see Thomas,” she said. “I can show you the way.”
“I can see it troubles you,” he answered. “And I remember the way. But you'll be there?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I owe him at least that.”
“Then I will see you soon,” he gave her a fatherly kiss on the head and then left the room, leaving Yvette alone. She took a deep, shuddering breath, looking in the mirror.
The girl that looked back at her surprised her. She seemed strong, fierce. She had put on some weight, and there was color in her cheeks. Her eyes were sharp, and her hair was adorned with jewels. The dragon dresses didn't quite fit her–they always underestimated how small she was–but she felt like they would soon.
She looked healthy and ready for whatever the day would bring. And more than looking it; she felt strong, and healthy, too. It was something that she had never experienced before. For once, she wasn't grasping for a chair, aching for a nap, hoping for some alone time. She wanted to be with people doing things. She wanted to be inspiring change whatever way she could.
And this was the world she could do it in.
She left to find Peter and to speak to him. She had a voice; she was going to be queen, and she needed to use it. Everyone deserved to be redeemed; everyone deserved a second chance.
By the time the trial commenced, the throne room was packed. Yvette stood off to the side, not wanting to get in the way of the order of the day. She also didn't want to look Thomas in the eye. She knew if she did, her heart might break.
The crowd parted when he was brought in. She heard the clink of the chains, and looked at her feet. She knew it was necessary; she knew how strong he was. But still, she wished that there was a better way.
She looked up at Peter instead, and Ariel sitting on the throne beside him. Yvette could make a better way when that chair was hers.
“Thomas Donizetti,” Peter's voice boomed across the throne room, sounding more kingly now than he ever had. “Do you understand the crimes which you are being tried for?”
“Of course, I understand them,” Thomas smirked. “I did them, didn't I?”
“Curb your tongue,” Ariel snapped at him. “Or I will make that prison permanent for you.”
Thomas was smart enough to say nothing to that, mostly because Armand gave him a little swat. Standing beside him, Armand looked like an embarrassed parent at the school principal's office.
“For my first witness, I call,” Peter looked up. “My brother, Cole, prince of the realm.”
Yvette's eyes lit up. He was taking her suggestion after all. He had listened when she had frantically whispered to him not half an hour ago.
“Cole,” Peter said, as Cole stepped forward. “You and Thomas are of the same breed, are you not?”
“We are,” Cole said. “Half dragon, half magic, an identity that was mostly hidden from us until late in our lives.”
“And you both fought in the old king's army?”
“We did,” Cole said, glaring out at the confused crowd. They were trying to figure out what Cole's story had to do with Thomas' crimes. As supporters of King Peter, they just wanted Thomas to pay for what he did.
“And Dr. Donizetti,” Peter said. “You have treated my brother Cole in the past.”
“I have,” Dr. Donizetti answered.
“And in your medical opinion, what difficulty has these events and this state done to him?”
Dr. Donizetti cleared his throat. “Descendants of two races often have trouble finding a place to fit in. They are sometimes abused for their abilities, and that can leave them with lasting damage, physically and emotionally.”
“But as you see, Cole has fit in just fine here, despite the crimes he had committed,” Peter said.
“I am reformed!” Cole grinned. “Thanks to my beautiful wife.”
On the other side of the throne, Enya blushed.
“Yes, of course,” Dr. Donizetti replied. “There is little damage that is done that cannot be undone, with love, kindness, and the right treatments.”
“So, you believe,” Peter stated, “that one who has committed such crimes can, in fact, not re-offend?”
“Of course,” Dr. Donizetti said.
“Thomas must pay for his crimes!” came a cry for the audience, but Peter waved his hands.
“Of course, he must pay,” he said. “An eye for an eye.”
Yvette felt her heart dip. Was Peter going to give him a death sentence, after all that?
“Unless…,” Peter said. “There is a cause–Thomas–that you are crucial to? A cause where you must save lives, rather than take them? Cole is forgiven for his crimes in lieu of giving his life to care for his wife, who needs his magic.”
“Thomas has been instrumental in my household, and in my surgery,” Armand blurted out, realizing what was happening. “More than once, patients have arrived half dead, beyond my skill. He has managed to save them with his magic.”
“Ah,” Peter said. “So a good heart beats beneath those crimes. That is interesting.”
The crowd roared, and Yvette closed her eyes, hoping, praying.
“So long as Thomas is saving lives, he may be pardoned,” Peter said, at long last. “But the moment his behavior is different, the sentence will come forth.” He stood up, coming down the steps to look Thomas in the eye. The younger dragon seemed too shocked to speak. He had expected death; he had prepared for death. But instead, he was being shown mercy. “If I find ever again any acts of heresy, any acts of defiance against my rule, I will not hesitate. Is that clear?”
“Yes, my king,” Thomas said, meeting Peter's gaze. Peter held Thomas' eye another moment, speaking words into his very heart. He lowered his voice, so it was barely audible beyond the two of them.
“If you had been standing here during my father's rule, he would not have saved you,” Peter said. “Think on that next time you consider who to serve.”
And with that, he ascended the steps, going to sit on the throne. Before he did though, he caught Yvette's eye, smiling slightly.
She met his gaze with tears.
“Thank you,” she mouthed, and he dipped his head. Thomas was led out to the roaring crowd, and Yvette bowed her head.
A second chance. Everyone deserved a second chance. Thomas had his, and now she could move forward with hers; her heart light.