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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 14:52:15 GMT -5
As the only suspect in the murder of King Maegor II, Vira Blackwood is to be brought to trial. The trial takes place in the Throne Room of the Red Keep. Queen Rhaella will preside from the Iron Throne, with lords Baratheon and Harroway as her fellow judges.
Today Rhaella had chosen attire fitting her role as Maegor's grieving widow. Her crown sparkled atop her head but her dress was black velvet with the sigil of her house emblazoned upon it. Unusually for Rhaella when she was in a gown, she wore no jewels. Her expression was severe. The knights of the Kingsguard stood in a semicircle protecting the Iron Throne.
Various important members of the Court were at hand, including the Grand Maester and the Master of Coin.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2014 15:15:31 GMT -5
After days in the black cells, it almost hurt Vira's eyes to emerge into the daylight. She was led up from the dungeons by six gold cloaks, and she made filthy and ragged sight as she crossed the yard with her gold cloak escorts. She felt all the eyes on her - the guards the grooms, the servants. It was worse than when she had been a peasant, worse than the day she had first walked into the Red Keep with Lady Adara Dondarrion. She felt weak and sick, but was determined not to show it. Inside the throne room, the gold cloaks carved a path for her through the mass of knights and lords and ladies, and she took her place, after glancing at the judges.
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Post by The Gambler on Apr 22, 2014 16:25:22 GMT -5
Lords Baratheon and Harroway looked down at her from the dais on either side of the Queen. Nose turned up in the air even as he looked down, the Master of Laws looked pompous as ever to have been chosen and had been boasting of his vast knowledge of court proceedings to all who would listen. Lord Borros looked quite bored with the affaird in contrast, cleaning dirt from his nails absent-mindedly.
Lord Redwyne and his second son were also in attendance in the gathered audience, their eyes upon the accused murderer.
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 18:09:00 GMT -5
The gallery above the throne room was packed with spectators while the throne room was guarded by a throng of gold cloaks. Finally, an official came forward to say a prayer in the name of the twelve high gods of Valyria. Special blessings were offered to Balerion and Meraxes, the father and mother gods, to Veraxes the god of life, and then, finally, to Vermithor, the god of death.
When the prayers were done, the herald cried out "All hail Rhaella of the House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, widow of King Maegor the Second of his name and Queen Regent to King Aegon the Second of his name."
Rhaella stood, Dark Sister in hand. Her voice was fierce and commanding. "My lords and ladies, I come before you today, with the noble lords Baratheon and Harroway, to sit in judgement of a terrible crime. My husband, King Maegor, was cruelly slain as he lay abed. The woman Vira of Lower Crinkley was made welcome in Kings Landing, recognised as a dragonseed and granted an honourable marriage to a loyal and noble knight, but today I must call her forth to answer the charges of regicide, fratricide and treason."
A hush fell. Rhaella waited a moment before seating herself once more.
"Vira of Lower Crinkley, you will answer the charges. I will hear your answer and then you will be silent while the evidence against you is presented before this court. Now speak, and gods help you if you lie before the court."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2014 22:41:31 GMT -5
Vira listened to the dowager queen in disgust, before rising to speak. Her voice was calm, but proud. "I would remind Her Grace the Queen that my name is Vira Blackwood, and I should be addressed as such. One might assume that a noblewoman of such an esteemed House as Blackwood, a woman with child, would not be so savagely treated as to be beaten by the armored knights of the Kingsguard and bodily thrown into the black cells that are reserved for prisoners who have already been condemned. Her Grace the Queen knows full well that I am innocent of the charges laid against me. The knights of the Kingsguard who saw me enter the King's chambers, and followed me into it five seconds later, found the same thing I did upon entering; the King's butchered corpse. Her Grace, being a warrior of great renown, knows that a woman in my condition is nowhere near capable of doing to the King what was done to him, in the amount of time I was in His Grace's chambers alone. In spite of this, Her Grace the Queen holds a trial regardless of that knowledge, having already determined the verdict in advance."
She took a deep breath. "I demand a trial by battle. I am blood of the dragon and a Blackwood besides, I have that right. I will defend my innocence in the sky, on dragonback, against whoever will volunteer to stand for my accusers."
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 23, 2014 5:20:49 GMT -5
Rhaella's voice was cold as she looked down on Vira from the height of the Iron Throne. "Her Grace the Queen would prefer not to be holding this trial at all. Yet one fact is indisputable. King Maegor is dead. Three people alone saw him in the moments leading to his death. Ser Symon Buckler and Ser Moryn Stokeworth are knights of the Kingsguard, loyal and true. That leaves only yourself. I will advise you to be silent while I confer with lords Baratheon and Harroway."
She turned to her fellow judges. "Lord Harroway, I seek your counsel on this matter. This woman is a bastard born of peasant stock but claims blood of the dragon. What say you?"
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Post by The Gambler on Apr 23, 2014 23:39:00 GMT -5
"I do not think a noble husband and dragon remove the taint of common birth." Harroway replied, with hardly a second thought. "She is not entitled to such a right. Hang her and let us be done with it."
"With all due respect, His Grace would have disagreed with you vehemently, my lord." Baratheon interjected. "He always held that a dragon was all the proof needed of royal blood. Should we tarnish the values of the man whose murder we seek to give justice now by denying her the right he would have argued as inherent in her blood?"
Both men looked then to the queen, clearly expecting her to break the stalemate.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2014 23:59:19 GMT -5
Vira waited for the dowager queen's judgment.
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 24, 2014 16:30:19 GMT -5
Rhaella glanced at her companions, thinking. She was not best pleased at the thought of Vira fighting on dragonback but she was determined that justice be done in accordance with the laws. So she looked down at Vira with a cool, calm expression and said very clearly "I consent. Let it not be said that House Targaryen does not offer a fair trial. You shall remain in your cell until such time as King Aegon returns from the Free Cities. When that day comes, you shall face Ser Brandon Snow, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, who shall act as the champion of House Targaryen as his duty demands. So you may take your chances in the sky or in this courtroom."
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Post by The Gambler on Apr 24, 2014 16:36:25 GMT -5
"Or you may name a champion." Harroway chimed in, uncomfortable with the notion of asking a knight of the Kingsguard to fight a pregnant woman.
Baratheon merely seemed impatient, the nature of law clearly tedious for the lord. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2014 16:46:52 GMT -5
"I choose a dragon duel, my lord Harroway," Vira said respectfully. "On the back of Aegerys, I will be equally able to defend myself as anyone else."
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Post by The Gambler on Apr 24, 2014 17:17:05 GMT -5
"Very well." he sighed, as the Gold Cloaks escorted her back to the Black Cells.
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all alone and also really bored 
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too