The Sword and Shield That Protects
Daysbane-
I require your audience in private when I am finished here. Wait for me.
-Mael'thas Bloodhawk.
Nikoleta crumpled up the note and muttered to herself, "I need to speak with you as well.." She went over to Dualla and Mariveaux, seeing them off as they hearthed back to the Bay. Nikoleta had wanted to return home with them but was reeling at the verdict, her temper checked only by her clenched fist.
Nikoleta waited patiently off to the side as she watched Lady Karis escort Brother Melenor off. They would be returning to the Undercity no doubt. Surely Melenor had matters there to tend to before he was banished. She snorted, unbelieving that he was granted such niceties as 'getting his affairs in order.' All she could wonder was: Did that include arranging a sniper sent to Booty Bay now?
Eventually the sun vanished behind the mountains, leaving behind a sickly looking dusk in the sky. The people who had come to watch Melenor's trial were hesitantly leaving, as they all spoke in hushed tones to one another, discussing what had taken place.
A small burst of warm air caught her attention as it rustled her hair. She turned to be eye to eye with a warhorses muzzle. Peering around the massive stead, she saluted Sir Mael'thas Bloodhawk brusquely. "Follow me, please." He called down to her.
Nodding, Nikoleta called for her own charger and gracefully mounted her warhorse as it trotted past her. She kicked his flanks lightly, urging him to follow her Knight-Lord.
They rode to an abandoned dock nearby the site they used for court. Mael'thas and Nikoleta dismounted and faced each other. Both noticed that the other had something to discuss.
Nikoleta forgot herself, and spoke out of line. "How could this happen? You needed Mariveaux to testify and she did and now she might be in danger?? I am beyond myself in keeping her safe, so I ask you - what the FEL am I supposed to do now??"
Mael'thas glared, his eyes glinting dangerously at her insubordination. "What are you supposed to do now?? You explain to me Knight, why is it that YOU did not report to us about his confession?! I was told you were there. That you heard. YOU should have been on the witness stand, to serve and protect the people like you are supposed to do. You should have been up there, not her. You are the sword and shield that protects your people. And you stood by and said nothing. You want to be angry with me? Begin with yourself!"
Caught up in the heat of the moment she grits her teet "-I- would NEVER withhold evidence from the Order! NEVER. I did not hear a thing that night, I escorted her there yes, but then I called everyone that joined us away.. I- I…" Nikoleta paused and felt her spirit sink. "I left her alone with him.. to have a moment… Oh, I should never have left her. I should have been the one to go up… not her. Oh…" She felt her eyes brim as she knew she failed her dearest friend. Again.
Nikoleta could not bear to look up at her Knight-Lord realizing why he had been so angry with her.
Maelthas locks his gaze onto Nikoleta. "And do you think I should magically know all that?" He snarls, his frustration evident. "Do you know how many people I warned about this man?? And how many turned a blind eye? My own friend killed Opia for that monster." He scrubs a hand over his jaw looking weary for a moment. "Now.. I am sorry. That was all ill-spoken."
Nikoleta catches his anger. "And you don't think -I- know that? You told me about Opia! YOU also said that I was to be silent in my knowledge, that left me in an awkward position! ...Oh.." Her eyes brim with tears. Thinking about Mariveaux suddenly. She bows her head down.
She heard Maelthas sigh. "I know. I set you to watch. Not act. I do not like this verdict, he will strike. Its only a matter of where, when, and at who." He walks over to the piling on the dock and slams his fist into it in frustration, making Nikoleta flinch. "I asked her. Mariveaux. But I told her that if she feared retribution, at all, not to do it. I gave her that choice."
Sighing to the dock below her, she said, "I never should have left her side.. If I was there she never would have been killed.. If I was there, she never would have had to testify.. and I would have done my duty."
Maelthas shakes his hand, wincing. "Thats not your fault... No more than it is mine, for Opia's death. My own man was soft-hearted, and spirited her out of the City without my leave. He felt sorry for her, under protective custody. In the end, that was how Behren found her, and killed her. One Knight's misplaced mercy..."
"Mercy..." Nikoleta closed her eyes. "I had some for Melenor... I almost had pity... Mariveaux's own heart made me believe he had good in him. I cannot be so weak as to let my guard down... with anyone..."
Maelthas said, "They will say mercy was shown here today. Why there was so much for this monster, and none, NONE for our dead, sickens me. This man betrayed our Gates. Thousands died to the Scourge."
Nikoleta loked up at Maelthas. "I... really don't know if he would hurt her.. Mari..." Feeling small she walked over to the edge of the dock and sat down, feeling so very tired.
"Mercy means nothing to Darkness." Maelthas continued. "It will take it, and exploit it. There will be more evil and I pray that next time, others are wise enough to see it."
"I am sorry Sir." Nikoleta murmured. "I am sorry I didn't stay with Mari and listen to Melenor.. I had every right to be present but.. I felt pity for Mari... she had always thought so kindly toward him... I..."
Maelthas inturrupted. "It is not your fault. When I thought you had heard and said nothing... but this? Not your fault."
Nikoleta looked desperately at Maelthas. "I would never let down the Order!"
Maelthas growled. "I am not saying you did. Please.. forget those words."
Wide-eyed, Nikoleta shook her head. "I will not... I have learned so much from this, Sir... I just want you to know that. I have learned so much from you.."
The Knight-Lord sighed. "I'll wager you'll find me vilified for this trial, far more than Madwin will be. For 'putting Mariveaux in danger,' they'll say..." He looks at his hands. "Justice is a two-edged sword. Had I seen the future, I would have taken his head. But I sought to spare Opia more fear. Sometimes.. there is no right thing to do. Only one thing that is less wrong."
Watching him silently, Nikoleta shook her head again. "No. I will make sure that no one says ill of your name. Even Mari.."
Maelthas smiled faintly at her. "You cannot stop it. I am a Blood Knight. That is what we endure." He sighed. "Better I am despised.. than her. That Orc. That was at the trial.. Is he a threat to her?"
Nikoleta frowns, thinking about Grol. "I...am not certain of that. He has been at the Bucket many times... but I can never tell which side he is on. I only know he is a sort of Pirate."
"My advice is to kill him, if he tries anything. You see what justice is these days."
Nikoleta nods and looks away, finally deciding to ask the question that has been nagging her this whole time. "Sir... I am not going to be expelled from the Order for my failings, am I??" She looked at him frantic and hurries to kneel before him.
Her Knight-Lord all but growled a short laugh. "You have not failed, Knight. Now get up off your knees before I kick your *ass."
She looked up at him, startled, and caught his smile. Bowing, she stood up.
"I have a great idea." Maelthas began. "Drunk. Let's do it. Get our minds off of all this."
Nikoleta peered up at him, trying to imagine her Knight-Lord drunk. "As you wish, Sir." She smiled.
He peered down at her as he called for his warhorse. "What do you wish?"
Nikoleta smiles at his charger as it approached and waved for her own to return to her. "What do I wish? I wish the best for the Order and our people... Sir..." She reaches out to pat the horse. "Why do you ask?" She jerks her hand back as the stallion snaps at her hand, narrowly missing it. Maelthas ignored her question. "No, I meant, what do you want right now?"
Blinking she smiles, fingering the reigns of her warhorse, Daimon. "I wish... for things that I can never have."
The Knight-Lord smiled at her. "Ah. You share what all people share then."
Nikoleta nodded absently, biting her lip to not think about those things she could never have.
I require your audience in private when I am finished here. Wait for me.
-Mael'thas Bloodhawk.
Nikoleta crumpled up the note and muttered to herself, "I need to speak with you as well.." She went over to Dualla and Mariveaux, seeing them off as they hearthed back to the Bay. Nikoleta had wanted to return home with them but was reeling at the verdict, her temper checked only by her clenched fist.
Nikoleta waited patiently off to the side as she watched Lady Karis escort Brother Melenor off. They would be returning to the Undercity no doubt. Surely Melenor had matters there to tend to before he was banished. She snorted, unbelieving that he was granted such niceties as 'getting his affairs in order.' All she could wonder was: Did that include arranging a sniper sent to Booty Bay now?
Eventually the sun vanished behind the mountains, leaving behind a sickly looking dusk in the sky. The people who had come to watch Melenor's trial were hesitantly leaving, as they all spoke in hushed tones to one another, discussing what had taken place.
A small burst of warm air caught her attention as it rustled her hair. She turned to be eye to eye with a warhorses muzzle. Peering around the massive stead, she saluted Sir Mael'thas Bloodhawk brusquely. "Follow me, please." He called down to her.
Nodding, Nikoleta called for her own charger and gracefully mounted her warhorse as it trotted past her. She kicked his flanks lightly, urging him to follow her Knight-Lord.
They rode to an abandoned dock nearby the site they used for court. Mael'thas and Nikoleta dismounted and faced each other. Both noticed that the other had something to discuss.
Nikoleta forgot herself, and spoke out of line. "How could this happen? You needed Mariveaux to testify and she did and now she might be in danger?? I am beyond myself in keeping her safe, so I ask you - what the FEL am I supposed to do now??"
Mael'thas glared, his eyes glinting dangerously at her insubordination. "What are you supposed to do now?? You explain to me Knight, why is it that YOU did not report to us about his confession?! I was told you were there. That you heard. YOU should have been on the witness stand, to serve and protect the people like you are supposed to do. You should have been up there, not her. You are the sword and shield that protects your people. And you stood by and said nothing. You want to be angry with me? Begin with yourself!"
Caught up in the heat of the moment she grits her teet "-I- would NEVER withhold evidence from the Order! NEVER. I did not hear a thing that night, I escorted her there yes, but then I called everyone that joined us away.. I- I…" Nikoleta paused and felt her spirit sink. "I left her alone with him.. to have a moment… Oh, I should never have left her. I should have been the one to go up… not her. Oh…" She felt her eyes brim as she knew she failed her dearest friend. Again.
Nikoleta could not bear to look up at her Knight-Lord realizing why he had been so angry with her.
Maelthas locks his gaze onto Nikoleta. "And do you think I should magically know all that?" He snarls, his frustration evident. "Do you know how many people I warned about this man?? And how many turned a blind eye? My own friend killed Opia for that monster." He scrubs a hand over his jaw looking weary for a moment. "Now.. I am sorry. That was all ill-spoken."
Nikoleta catches his anger. "And you don't think -I- know that? You told me about Opia! YOU also said that I was to be silent in my knowledge, that left me in an awkward position! ...Oh.." Her eyes brim with tears. Thinking about Mariveaux suddenly. She bows her head down.
She heard Maelthas sigh. "I know. I set you to watch. Not act. I do not like this verdict, he will strike. Its only a matter of where, when, and at who." He walks over to the piling on the dock and slams his fist into it in frustration, making Nikoleta flinch. "I asked her. Mariveaux. But I told her that if she feared retribution, at all, not to do it. I gave her that choice."
Sighing to the dock below her, she said, "I never should have left her side.. If I was there she never would have been killed.. If I was there, she never would have had to testify.. and I would have done my duty."
Maelthas shakes his hand, wincing. "Thats not your fault... No more than it is mine, for Opia's death. My own man was soft-hearted, and spirited her out of the City without my leave. He felt sorry for her, under protective custody. In the end, that was how Behren found her, and killed her. One Knight's misplaced mercy..."
"Mercy..." Nikoleta closed her eyes. "I had some for Melenor... I almost had pity... Mariveaux's own heart made me believe he had good in him. I cannot be so weak as to let my guard down... with anyone..."
Maelthas said, "They will say mercy was shown here today. Why there was so much for this monster, and none, NONE for our dead, sickens me. This man betrayed our Gates. Thousands died to the Scourge."
Nikoleta loked up at Maelthas. "I... really don't know if he would hurt her.. Mari..." Feeling small she walked over to the edge of the dock and sat down, feeling so very tired.
"Mercy means nothing to Darkness." Maelthas continued. "It will take it, and exploit it. There will be more evil and I pray that next time, others are wise enough to see it."
"I am sorry Sir." Nikoleta murmured. "I am sorry I didn't stay with Mari and listen to Melenor.. I had every right to be present but.. I felt pity for Mari... she had always thought so kindly toward him... I..."
Maelthas inturrupted. "It is not your fault. When I thought you had heard and said nothing... but this? Not your fault."
Nikoleta looked desperately at Maelthas. "I would never let down the Order!"
Maelthas growled. "I am not saying you did. Please.. forget those words."
Wide-eyed, Nikoleta shook her head. "I will not... I have learned so much from this, Sir... I just want you to know that. I have learned so much from you.."
The Knight-Lord sighed. "I'll wager you'll find me vilified for this trial, far more than Madwin will be. For 'putting Mariveaux in danger,' they'll say..." He looks at his hands. "Justice is a two-edged sword. Had I seen the future, I would have taken his head. But I sought to spare Opia more fear. Sometimes.. there is no right thing to do. Only one thing that is less wrong."
Watching him silently, Nikoleta shook her head again. "No. I will make sure that no one says ill of your name. Even Mari.."
Maelthas smiled faintly at her. "You cannot stop it. I am a Blood Knight. That is what we endure." He sighed. "Better I am despised.. than her. That Orc. That was at the trial.. Is he a threat to her?"
Nikoleta frowns, thinking about Grol. "I...am not certain of that. He has been at the Bucket many times... but I can never tell which side he is on. I only know he is a sort of Pirate."
"My advice is to kill him, if he tries anything. You see what justice is these days."
Nikoleta nods and looks away, finally deciding to ask the question that has been nagging her this whole time. "Sir... I am not going to be expelled from the Order for my failings, am I??" She looked at him frantic and hurries to kneel before him.
Her Knight-Lord all but growled a short laugh. "You have not failed, Knight. Now get up off your knees before I kick your *ass."
She looked up at him, startled, and caught his smile. Bowing, she stood up.
"I have a great idea." Maelthas began. "Drunk. Let's do it. Get our minds off of all this."
Nikoleta peered up at him, trying to imagine her Knight-Lord drunk. "As you wish, Sir." She smiled.
He peered down at her as he called for his warhorse. "What do you wish?"
Nikoleta smiles at his charger as it approached and waved for her own to return to her. "What do I wish? I wish the best for the Order and our people... Sir..." She reaches out to pat the horse. "Why do you ask?" She jerks her hand back as the stallion snaps at her hand, narrowly missing it. Maelthas ignored her question. "No, I meant, what do you want right now?"
Blinking she smiles, fingering the reigns of her warhorse, Daimon. "I wish... for things that I can never have."
The Knight-Lord smiled at her. "Ah. You share what all people share then."
Nikoleta nodded absently, biting her lip to not think about those things she could never have.