บท 109: I Swear...
The trial began with the Septon making a prayer asking the Father Above to guide them to justice.
Septon Quentyn is an old man with wrinkled skin and a strict look, Doran always thought that the old septon must have a serious allergy against anything remotely funny or entertaining, the prince has many memories of the old man glaring at him during prayer for reasons completely unfair (in Doran's opinion. It's not his fault that his sermons are so boring that the kids fall asleep nine times out of ten, Doran was doing the septon a favor by joking about and keeping them awake! His parents never scolded him for it, in fact his mother always encouraged him, but alas the septon is not his greatest admirer. Even less after creating his Game Houses, as Septon Quentyn considers gambling an unforgivable sin.)
"Will the judges please stand and raise your heads toward the Holy Star?" The septon looked at the seven judges, who rose and solemnly looked at the small seven-pointed star sculpture in the septon's hands.
"Do each of you swear in the name of the one True God and its Seven Aspects -the Father, the Mother, the Maiden, the Crone, the Smith, the Warrior, and the Stranger- you will fairly judge this case before men and gods, and that you will return a true verdict according to the evidence presented?"
"I do." The seven judges answered.
The septon nods and the seven judges sit in their chairs, then the septon turns to the crowd. Nobles and peasants alike are mixed in the room, all standing and watching the events as if it were a play.
"Good folks, do you swear in the name of the one True God and its Seven Aspects that you will respect the verdict this honorable judges will give once this trial is over?"
"Aye!" Some murmur and others shout.
"And the witnesses who will give their testimony, do you swear in the name of the one True God and its Seven Aspects that each word you will pronounce here is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"Aye!"
"Then, this trial shall begin for the Gods are looking from above and we have their blessings!" Septon Quentyn stepped back and passed the seven-pointed star sculpture to an assistant, who placed it on a pedestal.
Lord Edgar asked to be his own advocate as he did not trust others to do a good job, either due to incompetence or for any other reason (he is very distrustful of the princess, and is almost certain that if he were to choose a advocate, that advocate would be bribed or threatened). As for House Martell, it was Prince Arthur who will be their representative in the trial since Princess Obella is on an expedition in the Summer Islands and Princess Dorna is one of the judges (Doran is still too young in the eyes of many, plus Arthur has a great reputation as a serious and honest man, which will be extremely useful).
Arthur Uller walks towards the judges at a slow pace, each step echoing as the crowd is silent, on tiptoes and with attentive ears. The prince consort bows his head towards the judges and turns to the crowd, leaning on his cane - ebony with a golden serpent head - he begins to present the case.
"My lords and ladies, good folks of Dorne, we -House Nymeros Martell of Sunspear- accuse House Yronwood of Yronwood of the most heinous crime of all: Treason." Arthur looks at the crowd with a grim expression, reflecting the seriousness of the crime.
The room was silent for a moment before the noise erupted, the nobles and smallfolk cursing, whispering to each other while pointing their fingers, and making a ruckus.
Arthur was undeterred by the interruption, he raised his cane and smacked it hard on the floor. One, two, and three times. At the third blow the room was silent and all eyes were on the prince consort who looked at them coldly, his face showing his discontent.
Doran saw several people move uncomfortably in their place before his grandfather's gaze, and more than one swallowed nervously. The prince suppressed a laugh as these men and women, some older than his grandfather, looked like children caught up in the middle of a mischief.
With the room silent, Prince Arthur continued:
"This betrayal is not recent, the late Lord Yon Yronwood conspired with the also late Aegor Rivers -better known as Bittersteel-. Together they planned to orchestrate a war. In exchange for power and riches House Yronwood betrayed their lieges, their kingdoms and their Gods. Lord Edgar Yronwood was aware of these treacherous plans and actively participated in this vile act, conspiring in the shadows as vermin with the mummer dragons of the east. Tell me Edgar Yronwood, do you deny these accusations? Do you deny conspiring against House Nymeros Martell -your lieges - and break the ancestral oaths your House made so many generations ago?
"I deny it!" Edgar steps forward and looks at Prince Arthur, defiant and indignant. "I was wrongfully accused of a crime I would never dare to commit! I love Dorne and its people more than anything, everything I have ever done in all my life was for Dorne!"
"Whew, what a relief." Comments Princess Dorna Martell in a dry tone, rolling her eyes. More than a few people laugh, Dorna himself could barely suppress his laughter at his grandmother`s witt.
"Ahem," Prince Arthur clears his throat and sends his wife a sharp look. She looks very unapologetic and grins at him. He shakes his head and continues: "Lord Edgar Yronwood, do you swear - with these good men and women present in this room and our Gods from Above as witnesses - that you are innocent?"
"I swear!" Lord Edgar responds vehemently.
"The face he has! Lying shamelessly!" Manfrey Martell mutters in disgust, he is heard by some people who nod in agreement. Doran doesn't say anything, he just watches the trial carefully. He can't help but remember a trial that took place many summers and winters ago, in another life, when he was in Edgar Yronwood's place. There are certain similarities, both of them were accused of crimes they did commit (in his case it was self defense, and was a situation rigged against him from the beginning).
`Huh, even in this situation, this trial, in a world centuries behind, seems more legitimate than that one.` Doran is still salty about that trial.
"There are witnesses against you," Arthur said, looking at Edgar seriously. "First we'll listen to what they have to say, we shall begin with ser Ronnel!"
For the first time since the trial began Edgar Yronwood looked agitated, he looked at the doors of the room with concern, anger and betrayal.
`How ironic that he feels betrayed, very ironic indeed.` Doran looks at Lord Edgar with a wicked smirk.
The elderly knight who used to be Yon Yronwood's right-hand man steps forward, he is clad in leather armor and despite his obvious apprehensiveness and embarrassment he walks purposefully. Ser Ronnel looks very healthy, his beard is neatly trimmed and his hair is tied. No one could say that the knight is a prisoner of House Martell, for the world he is a voluntary witness.
Even he himself thinks that he is a voluntary witness fed up with the betrayals of his superiors and repentant of the many crimes he committed in their name. Such is the power of a Master of the Mental Arts, with enough time and power at their disposal they can mold someone's mind like clay.
`It only took a few memories manipulation, insertion of emotions that were not his own here and there, some compulsions in his subconscious and ser Ronnel is a tired and regretful knight.`
***
NOTE: Writing this trial is proving to be quite the challenge. I'm researching real trials for inspiration, as well as looking at some examples on youtube and adapting all of that to the medieval era.
I don't think it's very historically accurate...
My Westerosi Trial model is:
-Septon makes a prayer to the gods.
-Septon asks everyone to swear to be honest.
-The case is presented by the representative of the person making the accusation (equivalent to District Attorney)
-The accused pleads guilty or innocent.
-Witnesses begin to testify.
NOTE 2: I remind you of the date and ages (remember that the Westerosi year is approximately 13 months):
We are in the 7th Moon of 259 (Tyrosh was just conquered a month ago)
Doran is a few days away from turning twelve.
Rhaella is 14 years old.
Aerys is 15, Twyin is 16.
***
NOTE: Check out my new story. Is another GoT story but very different from anything I have written thus far.
The Revolution of Westeros: https://www.webnovel.com/book/the-revolution-of-westeros_25576593506569105
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