{"id":5261,"date":"2015-05-20T14:33:10","date_gmt":"2015-05-20T18:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.childrenofdarkness.com\/?p=5261"},"modified":"2015-05-20T14:33:10","modified_gmt":"2015-05-20T18:33:10","slug":"the-tribunal-of-marius-de-romanus-pt-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/the-tribunal-of-marius-de-romanus-pt-20\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tribunal of Marius de Romanus, Pt. 20"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"merida-witness-stand\"<\/a>Merida was being escorted from the private boxes where the families were being held by the Order guards.\u00a0 She looked defiant and slightly annoyed at the whole process.\u00a0 Armand seemed to be talking to her, to which she smiled at him, placing her hand over her heart.\u00a0 The love between these two was quite obvious to anyone that was around them.\u00a0 It was the first time I had seen Armand so settled and the first time I had ever seen a couple of our kind live life so\u2026 normally. It was as if this affliction wasn\u2019t something that was ever going to hold them back or keep them from being human beings. Quite refreshing to see. \u00a0My maker smiled and looked over to Armand, giving him a wink. I think he rather liked Merida and you could not have guessed that at one time Armand and Lestat were mortal enemies fighting over the love of a man that could not love either of them back because his heart had been so broken; our dear Louis.\u00a0 As Merida moved past Marius she turned to him and she smiled at him too\u2026 Marius nodded with a wink.\u00a0 I witnessed pride in him for this woman.\u00a0 How fatherly of him.<\/p>\n

The deputy took his position and went to swear Merida in.\u00a0 She promptly replied, \u201cTell the truth\u2026 yada yada\u2026 so help me god\u2026 yada yada. Can we get on with it?\u201d\u00a0 So much like Maharet. She sighed dramatically and said, \u201cI do.\u201d Then sat down in the chair, crossing her legs, looking very much like the noblewoman she now is. Counselor Windsor would go first.<\/p>\n

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~<\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor:\u00a0 \u201cThank you Mrs. Romanus. Let\u2019s\u2026 get on with it.\u00a0 How did you hear your sire-sister Carrie Parker had been taken?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: \u201cI felt distress through our bloodline, my sire was angry so I went to him. he told me my sister was captured.\u201d<\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cCaptured, right. And by sire you mean your maker, Va\u2019lis Razele, correct?<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: *sighs*<\/em><\/strong> \u201cYes, my “maker”, my sire, my father…Va\u2019lis Razele.<\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cSo you did not immediately tell your husband?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: \u201cI did not immediately go to my husband, no.\u00a0 He found out later, through Pandora and Va\u2019lis himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cAnd you only told Ms. Reeves afterwards?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: \u201cMaharet and I are bonded, she was able to pick up on my anger and panic and I did inform her that my sister was taken by the same bastards that took our maker. Through our bond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cSo who informed Mr. Romanus that Miss Parker had been taken?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: *rolls her eyes at the question<\/strong>*<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI told you that Pandora was one of the firsts to know because Va\u2019lis went to her. Afterwards, we gathered and I assumed Marius was brought up to speed by Pandora herself. You know they are married.\u00a0 And we had gathered to talk about it and plan our next steps that very same day, because that’s what families do…you know…unite in the face of tragedy and chaos. Then again maybe you do not know of such things.\u201d\u00a0 *has a super sweet smile the entire time. But a dangerous look in her eyes that would make Maharet proud.*<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cSo what you are saying is that House Romanus mobilized against House Draconis before you<\/u><\/em> were ever in any danger?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: *rolls her eyes again<\/strong>*<\/em> \u201cDid I say there was a movement against them? No I did Not. We were made aware of the issue. of course Va’lis would want to go fetch his childe. It’s only natural.\u00a0 So he and my husband had taken a head start out through our world gate back here to Earth. As soon as I found out, I went to go join them, but I was sent away. At that time there was no movement to bum rush the Draconis coven and give them the beating they all deserve for being power hungry maniacs who prey on those that wished to remain peaceful and have what any of us can consider a “normal life”. Only when they struck out at me<\/u><\/em> was there action taken. And that action was taken by Maharet because I am her protego; bonded to her.\u201d\u00a0 *as she speaks her anger flares as do her eyes to flame but remains as calm as she can*<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cI think we can do without the rhetoric, Mrs. Romanus. The answer to the question is a simple, no.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus:\u00a0 *snickers<\/strong>*<\/em><\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cYou say you were sent away. Sent away by whom?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus:\u00a0 *smacks her teeth*<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0\u201cBy my maker. He sent me home with my kids. because only a fucking idiot would dare come for me whilst I was in Romanus territory. But alas…this world apparently hosts many idiots\u2026 don’t you think so counselor?\u201d\u00a0 *as she gives her a pointed look as if to say, I\u2019ll say whatever I want*<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor:\u00a0 \u201cChancellors, can you instruct the witness to just answer the questions that are posed to her or deem her a hostile witness?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chancellor Grimm: \u201cMrs. Romanus, please answer the questions as given in a direct fashion. \u00a0The counselors of this case are not on trial here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: *nods once, smiling, then mutters something about how they have not even begun to see \u201chostile\u201d<\/strong>* <\/em>\u201cSure. Whatever you say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chancellor Grimm: \u201cYou may proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cSo you got on a private plane out of Paris and flew back to Venice and went straight home. Did you make any stops?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus:\u00a0 *pauses for a moment to take a deep breath knowing the next few answers will dig up old wounds*<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0\u201cOn my way back to the villa, I did stop to take a bit of a swim to calm myself fully before seeing my children. A spot of water very near the villa. I learned it\u2019s best to…explode in water to prevent serious damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked up to the glass of the private box for the Romanus family.\u00a0 Carrie stood there, she knew exactly how painful it was to recount her steps was for Merida.\u00a0 She lowered her head, side glancing at Va\u2019lis who was behind her.\u00a0 Where Va\u2019lis had taught Merida anger and rage, Maharet was showing her how to use it, how to focus it, and also how to release it in safe ways. Merida had done what she did for the safety of her children. Only through Maharet would she have ever learned anything of her Elementalist powers. But where Merida went wrong, and she knew it, was letting her guard down feeling safe in Venice. \u00a0That fact had been killing her.<\/p>\n

Couns. Windsor: \u201cI see.\u00a0 Chancellors, I have nothing further of this witness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chancellor O\u2019Connor: \u201cVery well,\u00a0 Couns. Talbot, cross.\u201d<\/p>\n

*Counselor Windsor walks back to her seat as I stand up, walking towards the center of the room<\/strong>*<\/em><\/p>\n

Couns. Talbot:\u00a0 \u201cHello Mrs. Romanus. Thank you for coming in to give your testimony.\u00a0 You mentioned something earlier I\u2019d like you to elaborate on, if I may. You said that House Draconis had taken your maker. Can you elaborate on that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: *smiles at David<\/strong>*<\/em> \u201cCertainly, it took place on Sosaria, how long ago I can’t remember, things have happened since then. Apparently, he was found by one of the Draco’s, Danielle, bitten and beat down. A slap in the face to his pride… but some weeks later… they returned in numbers and beat him down once more and took him away which is why this whole nightmare started.\u201d<\/p>\n

Couns. Talbot: \u201cDo you remember if at that time Mr. Razele served as protego, by our laws, to anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: \u00a0*thinks for a moment<\/strong>*<\/em> \u201cI think he was still indeed bonded to Pandora de Romanus at the time. She has long served as his sire-figure for many years, then she finally become one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Couns. Talbot: \u201cWould you say the connection of House Romanus to these events was really centered around Mr. Razele primarily?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: \u201cPrimarily, it is how it started, but when they found out there was a childe of his that also knew the magic and trained in it, is when I was taken and the Romanus family stepped up to aid House Kemet given I am a direct descendent to Maharet and married to Armand de Romanus. In my opinion had David kept his sticky fingers to himself and left us alone, none of this would have had to be. We\u2019d have all lived in peace. And there would be no fight between our families and my father in law wouldn\u2019t be on the chopping block.\u201d \u00a0*mutters an offhanded comment about them being greedy overpowered bastards<\/strong>*<\/em><\/p>\n

Couns. Talbot:\u00a0 \u201cCarrie Parker is your sire-sister, correct? What do know of her abduction that happened before yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Romanus: *smiles<\/strong>*<\/em> \u201cYes…Carrie is my sire sister, one I am quite proud to call my sister…as for her abduction I was not privy to the details, I believe she was with her mortal husband at the time. She’s so young, she never had a fighting chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

I smiled back to Merida and said, “Thank you Mrs. Romanus.” I then turned to the Chancellors and said, “I have nothing further Chancellors.” Chancellor Grimm looked to Merida, “You may step down.”<\/p>\n

As I walked back to confer with Natasha, I knew we had them right where we wanted them. The protection laws for Protegos extend very much like those of your own progeny. The High Council would have either change the laws to circumvent that protection or dismiss the claims against Marius due to the fact that not only was Merida a protego to Maharet, but that Va\u2019lis might have been one to Pandora.\u00a0 It would sanction the raid on the Draconis territory based on the retrieval of Merida de Romanus.\u00a0 The fact that we also rescued Carrie Parker could be easily tied to Va\u2019lis if in fact he was still bonded to Pandora when Carrie was taken.\u00a0 I looked towards Merida as she was walking past us\u2026 she smiled at me, winked at Marius, and glares at David Draco, whilst flipping him the finger on her way out.\u00a0 I shook my head with a smile.<\/p>\n

Chancellor Grimm: *looking to Deputy Silas<\/strong>*<\/em> \u201cCall the next witness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Order Deputy Silas: \u201cThe High Council calls, Carrie Parker.<\/p>\n

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~<\/p>\n

I looked to Natasha, she knew exactly where I was headed with this. \u201cI might need to call Va\u2019lis to the stand.\u201d\u00a0 She nodded. \u201cDo we submit him as a witness for today?\u201d I looked to her and rubbed my face, \u201cAsk Marius.\u201d\u00a0 Natasha went over to where Marius was.\u00a0 I raised my yellow sign to the High Council which signifies the need to for client conferment. Chancellor O\u2019Connor addressed the court. \u201cCounselor Talbot calls for a conferment. Hold on Miss Parker, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

Natasha had a spirited conversation with Marius.\u00a0 Armand thought it wise to call on Va\u2019lis, but Lestat and Marius were hesitant. Marius wanted to have Natasha go up to the box and talk with Pandora about this.\u00a0 So she came back and told me.\u00a0 I said, \u201cWe\u2019ll go up there together.\u201d\u00a0 And so we went.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Merida was being escorted from the private boxes where the families were being held by the Order guards.\u00a0 She looked defiant and slightly annoyed at the whole process.\u00a0 Armand seemed to be talking to her, to which she smiled at him, placing her hand over her heart.\u00a0 The love between these two was quite obvious … Read more<\/a>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,17,42],"tags":[101,138,142,161,164],"class_list":["post-5261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-character-journals","category-david-talbot","category-storylines","category-draconians","tag-david-talbot","tag-merida-douglas","tag-order-of-the-talamasca","tag-the-draconians","tag-the-tribunal-of-marius-de-romanus","infinite-scroll-item","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5261"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5261\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tlp-guild.com\/uo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}