Forgive my double posting, but I finished earlier than I thought. And changed it, which is why you have it now instead of tomorrow. Here it is!
I dashed out of my room, pulling Rhiannon along with me. Down the stairs, through the door, out into the cobbled street. Past the houses and shops, where villages peered out of windows or stood in doorframes to watch us run past, calling out threats or whispering amongst themselves, their voices like the rustling of trees before a storm. I looked back at Rhiannon as we passed a particularly vindictive looking group of people who hissed at us as we rushed by. Her face was emotionless and her eyes were set, tranquil as the sky. She was ready for the storm. The Keyblade was still gripped in her hand. Good. We would need it for the judgement. I turned sharply to the left and ran through a portal, stopping at the end of a passageway before an immense silver-and-bronze door. I gave Rhiannon and I a few moments to catch our breath.
"We’re here." I said, my heart racing from our sprint here and my nervousness.
"I guessed as much." Rhiannon replied, somewhat sarcastically.
I managed to smile at her wryness. But my smile slipped away as I gazed back at the imposing door. Behind it lay her fate, for good or for ill. My heart twisted painfully at the thought.
"Remember Rhiannon, tell them your story. About your world, when it was destroyed. Anything that you think will prove your light to them."
She gave a brisk nod. "I know what to say."
"Good. And don’t worry, I’m coming in with you."
Rhiannon smiled back. "Im glad." she looked down at her Keyblade. "I suppose I should give this to you for now?" she held it forward, slightly reluctantly.
"For now.", I agreed, accepting the weapon. "It would be a bad idea to walk in there with looking like you’re ready for a fight." taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door. A moment later, a voice rang out from behind it.
"Enter."
Immediately, the heavy door swung open. With a last glance at each other, Rhiannon and I stepped inside.
Beyond the door was a large lush arbor, the rays of the setting sun trickling golden through the vivid green leaves from the glass ceiling high above us. Silver runes shone from the surrounding walls, turning copper where the sun hit them. A stone path led from the doorway to the other end of the chamber, stopping a few feet in front of the long, carved granite table where the Council members sat.
"Not exactly where I thought I would be judged." Rhiannon whispered as we walked along the path.
"Those trees by the table are sacred. They represent the evolution of our world. But it is beautiful." I replied quietly as we stopped in front of the Council. With a significant glance in Rhiannon’s direction, I spread my arms out wide and bowed slightly. Rhiannon followed suite, watched carefully by the village leaders. Their old, lined faces reflected the hate and fear of years past. My heart drummed in my chest.
One of the leaders turned to me, a woman whose black hair was veined with frost. Semine was her name.
"Your name?", she asked curtly, her voice like that of a high-pitched crow’s.
"Amera, your Grace, daughter of the late Cylla and Deroc." I replied, lowering my eyes respectively.
Semine nodded and focused her attention on Rhiannon.
"And yours?", she inquired.
"Rhiannon, your Grace. Forgive me, but I have never known my parents."
I grimaced. Luckily, none of the Council noticed. But looking at the expressions on most of their faces, I could guess their thoughts. Probably born from the shadows, a parentless progeny of evil.
"You are here so that we may pass judgement on whether or not you threaten this world. You have been suspected of being tied to the Heartless and the Darkness. Have you anything to say in your defense?"
Rhiannon nodded politely. "I do, your Grace. I ask the Council’s permission to tell the story of my world’s destruction." She didn’t mention the fact that she didn’t yet know what Heartless were.
Several of the Council members exchanged glances before Byron, a broad shouldered man with thick grey hair responded, "Very well. Proceed."
Rhiannon paused to take a deep breath before she began her tale. I listened attentively as she told of prophetic dreams that had warned and guided her, and the night when they had come true, and how she had first encountered the shadowy creatures who had tried to take her heart. Heartless, undoubtably, though she could not yet name them. Like most refugees, she had never heard of such things before her world’s destruction. As she talked, I admired the way she held herself, standing straight and tall, head erect, voice ever strong. It took courage to retell the worst experience of her life to a group of critical strangers who wanted her dead, without faltering in the slightest. To the contrary, her pale face, framed by wavy brown-black hair, was expressionless, save for the determination in her dark, teal-grey eyes. yet as I looked closer, I could see that her shoulders, covered by a dark blue cloak fastened with a rayed star, trembled slightly. Her only current display of grief. As though reacting to it’s mistress’ pent-up emotions, I felt the Keyblade vibrate gently in my hand. I kept my face on Rhiannon, not wanting to draw the Council’s attention. But, as the sky above us darkened and Rhiannon’s tale came to a close, their gaze was inevitable.
"Is that the weapon which she was found holding?" queried Byron.
"Yes my Lord." I responded, thinking, What a stupid question.
"And is it true that she has not yet fought with it?"
"It is, my Lord. I took it from her while she was still unconscious. I returned it for a brief while when she awakened." I said, looking past Byron’s imposing face to gaze at the fire in the wall scones behind the granite table, as thought trying to find comfort in the flames. But they mocked me with flickering laughter.
"Great Council, I humbly request that you grant me the permission to speak freely."
The Council regarded me with intense stares, ever imperturbable. But I noticed that most of them looked more thoughtfully at Rhiannon and I than before, hostile expressions giving way into belief. Or so I hoped.
"Permission granted." Byron answered. I allowed myself a moment to feel relief before I began.
"I do not believe that Rhiannon is the successor for Darkness. I have only theories to support this, but I think that it is true. Everything has two sides. There are the Heartless, who are the embodiments of Darkness. Are not the ones who fight them Light? Twenty-seven years ago, someone came to bring Darkness. Today, someone has come who will bring Light. It is destiny. The proof of that is from her dreams. She was meant to come here to help us. Great Council, I give you a warning; try to kill her, and the forces of fate will stop you."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rhiannon glance at me. She flashed a small, grateful smile. But, looking back at the Council, I saw that they did not look as pleased. Perhaps they thought I had been threatening them. Rhiannon and I stood silently for several minutes as the Council talked in inaudible tones. I shuddered slightly, knowing what would be next. In mere moments, Rhiannon’s judgement would be passed.
Finally, Semine spoke. "The Council has decided."
Rhiannon tensed up, waiting, and I watched the fires laugh.
"Our judgement is death."
DAMN FONT SIZE! O well. I hoped you liked it! THe suspense is killing me at this point.
i ran out of candy from a dance i went to soo i guess i have to find something else for shugar))...this could take a while *walks off to find shugar filled food*