~Playlist: "Battle Scars" by Paradise Fears~

"Hope is so much stronger than fear"

Author's Note: Due to the creation of my own court system the trial will not be completely accurate in the sense that you are accustomed to. Keep in mind that this is the court of a different government, one that doesn't function the same way that the one you know does. Happy reading!

Rachel's POV

The crowd murmurs, the voices varying in tone: some were worried, while others sounded excited. I, however, still don't know how I feel about the trial that will be starting in less than ten minutes.

Willow Livingston deserves the worst sentence the crown can give. She's hurt and killed too many people to walk free. And her accomplice, Charlotta de Rosa, no doubt deserves the same.

Thalia Grace, however, is a different story. Although I'd never personally befriended the girl, I know that she isn't the kind to willingly partake in Willow's schemes. She was no doubt forced into it, and is therefore the victim.

Silena Beaugard is also on trial, yet she did nothing wrong. A couple of kisses is all it takes to become a criminal, it seems. An innocent fling now results in a full-blown court trial.

I don't blame Reyna for wanting this to happen. Three Selected girls were involved in a scandal of some form, and this is the only way we, along with the rest of Illea, is sure to get the truth. This way, no cruel rumors can be spread based on pure fantasies.

As a member of the jury, I'm supposed to remove all previous bias. But while doing that, am I expected to remove my personal morales? Is that bias as well? I don't know: no one's told me.

So I sit in my gown of gray on the stage special for the jury, and watch the other members around me.

Annabeth Chase's mouth is moving, yet no audible words come out. It seems that, even now, she's thinking and constructing a plan. Every once in a while, her eyes will dart up, as if she's expecting the trial to begin without her consent.

Piper is sitting next to her, and she's facing straight ahead. Her hands are folded together in her lap, yet her fingers twist together almost painfully. She's sitting up straight, and she's biting her lip. Piper is, without a doubt, nervous.

Reyna is on her right, and she looks absolutely regal in her gray gown. Her dark eyes are staring coldly at the whispering audience below.

Hazel is next to her, and she's playing with her hair. She seems to be filled with nervous energy that buzzes around her. Every so often, she looks across the room and smiles, as if she sees something no one else can.

Then there's me: Rachel Elizabeth Dare. I stay quiet, and my eyes continue to watch. From what I know about the courtroom, half of what is learned comes from words, while the other half comes from observations. I'm seated in the last chair of my row.

The rest of the jury consists of King Paul, Queen Sally, and Prince Percy. The royals, however, have their own area to sit. From here, I watch as Percy rests his head in his hands. His mother is rubbing his shoulder consolingly.

I fidget with the hem of my gray sleeve. Reyna decided, as a part of her planning, that the jury is to wear gray. Hazel explained to me that it's supposed to represent that not everything is black and white. The art metaphor wasn't lost on me, but I argued that it would have been more effective had we all worn a bright color. They disagreed, and here we were, sitting in gray dresses.

The wide doors open with a bang, and everyone flinches as they look towards the trespasser. Gaps and shouts come as a result of the appearance of the intruder. Several armed guards walk in, leading the familiar frame of Willow Livingston, manacles decorating her wrists. She looks different from the last time I saw her. Her neck is red, as if someone had tried to choke her. She sees us, and shoots the Selected a nasty grin. The guards force her to continue walking towards the bench she's to wait on while the other trials are conducted.

Behind Willow is her accomplice, Charlotta. Her wrists hold no chains, yet the guards walk close to her. She holds her head up high, but her eyes are blank and empty. My hand itches for a pencil: I want to draw the broken, yet proud tragedy of a girl.

Thalia is escorted in next, and she has bags under her eyes. She looks exhausted, yet her eyes are filled with something the two previous didn't have: hope. Despite the odds, Thalia is hopeful.

Last to come in is a girl that I almost can't recognize. Silena is peppered with scratches and bruises, and she's paler than I remember. But it's still Silena, and she's still struggling to smile as the guards gently bring her forwards. She's the first one to be put on trial, seeing that her offense, while major, wasn't as terrible as the rest of the defendants.

Piper draws in a sharp gasp, one that I can't help but agree with. Silena looks as if she was tortured. Guilt turns in my stomach: I hadn't been able to help her after I walked over to see what the screams were about. I was too focused on being upset at Percy to help her.

A guard assists her onto the chair she's to sit in during the course of the trial. She thanks him quietly before sitting still.

"What is the name of the defendant?" Judge Michaels, a burly Two with a thick mustache, demands loudly.

"Silena Beaugard," she says softly. She clears her throat loudly before repeating her name.

"Silena Beaugard, you have been charged with treason against the crown. How do you plead?"

She looks at the judge, and a fire burns inside the soft-spoken girl. Silena is calm, but her voice is firm. "Innocent."

Muttering breaks out throughout the court room, though I'm not sure why everyone is surprised. I doubt there are many that would admit kissing a man equals committing treason against the crown.

"Then tell us," Judge Michaels continues, "what you would like us to know."

As it is custom in Illea, the defendant is permitted to say what they want, as long as it's the truth. There are several guards that have been trained to detect when someone lies, as well as a machine that can read her heart rate. This way, no one can lie, at least not easily.

"I swear on the honor of myself, and on my family name, that all I say is true," Silena says, reciting the code of honor. "My name was drawn for the Selection, and I stayed in the castle for several months. I met a man during my time here. He was a guard, and his name is Charles Beckendorf. He's been working here for four years, and has always been loyal. Charlie never did a thing wrong."

"Miss Beaugard," the judge says. "With all due respect, this case is not about Charles Beckendorf: it's about you. Please explain how you are innocent."

Anger burns in Silena's blue eyes, but she doesn't retort. Instead, she calmly nods her head, and continues to talk.

"I met Charlie, and I was interested in him. We met in secret, never for very long. We soon became friends, and I realized that I loved him."

With a start, I realized what she was doing. While telling the truth, she was weaving a love story, one that would draw sympathy from the audience. Sure enough, a quick gaze around the room showed me several people were misty eyed.

"I love him," Silena continues. "But I knew that I shouldn't. I was in the Selection, and it would be illegal to so much as kiss another boy. But I couldn't help it: I kissed him one day after I realized the Prince would never love me in that way."

I watch as Piper wipes tears from her eyes. A few people from the crowd gasp, and Silena smiles sadly.

"I came here filled with the naïve hope that I could be the One. But that was never meant to be me, and fate led me here so that I could find Charlie. If I was going to end up going home in the end, what's the harm in pursuing a love that would have occurred no matter what? I did nothing wrong, nor am I rueful about any of my actions."

"Is that all?" Judge Michaels asks. Silena nods, and rests her hands in her lap. "I'd like to call James Garth to the stand."

A familiar looking man with trimmed brown hair marches up to the stand, and states the code of honor.

"Tell us," Judge Michaels says. "What you would like to know."

"I was doing my guard patrol one night, the night of the exclusive Report, when I heard them. Two people were making a lot of noise inside a room I knew should have been unoccupied."

I shudder at his oily voice. Suddenly, I realize who this man is. He was the one who held the whip above Silena, and brought it down so many times. James Garth was the one who did this to her.

I glance at Silena, and it's obvious that she is aware of who he is. Her white hands are curled into tight fists.

"So I did my job: I looked inside of the room, and saw a guard groping a pretty girl in a pink dress."

The audience isn't pleased with his statement: several people grumble at his description, including myself. Hazel glances at me, and I see agreement in her golden eyes.

"Please refrain from using any vulgar language, or descriptions," Judge Michaels barks.

James Garth nods, but he looks triumphant. He smirks as he looks at Silena before continuing his speech.

"I was about to leave them to it-" more complaints rang, but they were quickly hushed in order to hear the rest. "-when I realized who the girl was. Silena Beaugard, one of the Prince's beloved Selected, was in a room alone with a guard, and they were kissing. I did what any guard should have done: I interfered, and separated the two."

"Is that all?" the judge asks. James hesitates, then nods his head. "At this time, I would like the members of the jury to question both individuals."

The king is the first to speak. "My wife and I would like to allow everyone else to speak first before deciding what we have to say."

The judge nods, and looks at Percy, who licks his lips before standing up.

"I will question Silena first. Why did you leave the Report early?"

"Charlie said that he had planned something special for me," she states simply. "And we both agreed that few people would be wandering the halls at that time."

"What was it that he had?" Percy presses.

For the first time, Silena hesitates. "He had spent his life savings to buy a ring for me. It was an engagement ring. He proposed to me that night, and I accepted."

I can't help it: tears well up in my eyes. The night she was proposed to, a man whipped her viciously, and she was separated from her fiancé.

"That's all," Percy says softly, not looking Silena in the eye. "James Garth, why were you carrying a whip with you that night?"

Garth grins. "Ever since Willow became a problem, several guards took it upon themselves to become more heavily armed. We didn't want to be unprepared."

"So, after seeing that the girl wasn't Willow Livingston, why did you strike her forty-seven times?" he asks in a cold voice, one much different than the sympathetic one he used with Silena.

The grin freezes on James' mouth before it melts entirely. "W-what?"

Now is Percy's turn to wear a smile. "The doctor that examined Silena managed to conclude that she was struck forty-seven times. She wasn't a criminal: that kind of violence wasn't necessary. So why, James Garth, did you hit a girl that many times with a whip?"

He licks his lips nervously. "I-I knew that she was breaking the law, your highness. I knew that she was being unfaithful towards you. I was enforcing your law, my Prince. I was doing it for you."

"Don't tell me something you don't even believe," Percy growls. "You must be a special kind of sick to want to inflict that much pain onto someone."

"Is that all of your questions?" Judge Michaels asks sharply, shooting Percy a glance. Percy looks up and catches the look, and he recomposes himself.

"Yes, your honor."

"Then, Annabeth Chase, what questions do you have for the two?"

Annabeth stands up, her eyes matching the gray dress perfectly. Her hair is done up into a bun, and her face is emotionless.

"Silena Beaugard," she begins. "Did you know James Garth before the incident, for lack of a better word?"

"No," Silena responds. "If I saw him before, I didn't recognize him."

"Would you say that his attack was unprovoked?" Annabeth questions.

"Yes. I know that it is against the law to be romantically involved with another man, but it wasn't my choice. You can't choose which way to fall, can you?"

Annabeth stiffens, but forces herself to relax. Despite our differences, I admire her. She's always collected and composed, even in the most difficult of times.

"Well said. That is all of the questions I have for you. Thank you for answering them truthfully." Silena inclines her head in recognition. "James Garth, did you know Silena Beaugard before the incident?"

"No," he says. "I knew of her, of course, but she had never spoken to me before."

"Would you say that your attack was unprovoked?" she asks, repeating the same questions that she gave to Silena.

"What? Of course it wasn't! She was close to making love with that guard. I wasn't going to let the little bi-"

"Mr. Garth," Annabeth interrupts sharply. "How dare you call a lady that, especially after all that you've done!"

"I'm stating my opinion," he says in that oily voice. "As I was saying, I wasn't going to let her do that while being owned by the prince."

"So you would say that all of the Selected are the Prince's property?" Annabeth's anger is clear to see, and I have the same fire inside of me. The Elite, including myself, leans forward, anticipating the answer we all know he will give.

"Yes," James says. As if cued, all five of the Elite glare at him. I can hardly contain the anger inside myself.

Several shouts of protest are emitted from the audience. Many others, mostly women, look to be as indignant as I feel. I silently join their cries of injustice.

"You are aware that you whipped a girl," Annabeth continues, the courtroom practically coming alive with anger. The audience is a roaring tsunami, and Annabeth is the one controlling it. The judge does nothing to stop the chaos. "A girl that did nothing wrong, but falling in love. You whipped her forty-seven times, a number that is far higher than what any normal guard merely doing their duty would do. Explain to me how you justify that action."

All eyes aim towards James Garth. The look in his eyes is one of prey: cornered and helpless.

"I have done nothing wrong," he insists weakly. The rest of his words are drowned out by the shouts from the crowd.

Finally, Judge Michaels pounds his gavel. The room simmers down, but no one appears to be calm.

"You whipped a seventeen-year-old girl forty-seven times," Annabeth says quietly. "Yet, she's impossibly the one on trial. Elaborate on this, if you please, James Garth."

He glares at Annabeth, who matches it with a slight smirk. "I have nothing more to say to you."

"Very well," she says gracefully. "Piper McLean, if you have any questions."

Looking almost rehearsed, Piper rose at the same time Annabeth sat down.

"If you were on trial, James Garth," Piper says, her eyes flashing hazel. "What would you plead?"

"Your honor, these questions aren't relevant to the case," James says to the judge.

"Continue with your questioning, Miss McLean," is all Judge Michaels says, though the look he gives James Garth says more than words could.

"What would you plead?" she repeated.

"Innocent," James growled.

"You're saying that you didn't whip her?"

"I never-"

"You're saying that it was a mistake?"

"No, that's not what I-"

"Are you telling me that Silena Beaugard was whipped by a sadistic guard that had no business working in the palace?"

"These questions aren't relevant to this case!" James shouts. "And if you continue this, maybe you'll find out how that whip feels!"

The audience gasps. The wild smile that had appeared on James' face disappears as the words register.

Piper gives him a victorious smile before addressing the judge.

"I have no further questions."

"Do any other jury members wish to question the two?" Judge Michaels asks. No one stands up. Everything that I could have accomplished has already been done, and quite strategically by Annabeth and Piper. By the looks they're getting from James Garth, they're proving that his anger comes like deadly strikes of lightning, and the result won't be pretty. He already admitted that he would use his whip against another Selected, and without any remorse.

"Then the jury will disband to determine the verdict."

Rather than us leaving the room, the audience does. They rush out in a mesh of skirts and whispers.

The Prince joins the five of us and we sit around a table, provided by the judge.

"I'm assuming that everyone here knows what happens next," Percy says, giving us a weary smile. "Each person will say whether or not they believe the defendant to be guilty, and the reason for their belief. By going alphabetically, Annabeth, you'll go first."

"Innocent," she states firmly, her stormy eyes flashing as if daring someone to contradict her. "Silena Beaugard did nothing wrong. She kissed the man she loved after he proposed to her. While the timing was inconvenient, Silena and Charles Beckendorf should receive no charges against them."

Seeing that my last name is next, it's my turn to cast my vote. "Innocent," I say. "For the same reasons Annabeth said. She is a girl in love, and should be treated like that, not like a criminal."

"Innocent," Hazel agrees. "The law never made sense in the first place."

"Innocent," Piper says with a smile. "Silena didn't hurt anyone by her actions. Rather, she was the victim in this case."

"Innocent," Reyna says resolutely. "She did the same thing any of us would have done."

Percy smiles slightly. "My vote is innocent. Silena never deserved to be treated this way for the past few months. It's despicable."

"It's unanimous, then," I say with a smile. "That makes it easy for us."

"One down," Annabeth says, wiping the smile off of my face. "Three to go."

A somber atmosphere settles over us as we face the prospect of what's to come. Three more trials, each one bringing a new girl, each with their own story. This case was easy: anyone would agree that she's innocent.

"Shall we tell the judge?" Hazel asks.

"I think he already knows," Reyna says. "He seemed rather passionate that James Garth would be proven wrong."

At Percy's orders, the audience assembles back into the room. Silena is escorted back to the stand, and she sits as expressionless as a statue in the chair.

"Has the jury reached a decision?" Judge Michaels asks.

The crowd holds it's breath, waiting for the verdict.

"It was unanimous," Percy says with a small grin. "Silena Beaugard is innocent, and is cleared of all charges. She's a Two, and is free to go back home, or to wherever she chooses without facing any sort of discrimination."

Applause and cheers erupt from the audience. Silena's face erupts into a grin as her composure crumples to pieces. She's laughing and crying all at the same time. I can't help myself: I smile. I smile at the belief that everything will be as easy to figure out as a the innocence of a girl in love. I smile at the naïve belief that love is stronger than hatred, that all monsters can be scared back into the darkness, just like James Garth was.

I smile because at this moment, something was set right. A girl was set free, and to be reunited with her fiancé.

A/N
That may be the longest chapter I've ever written in this book.

Hopefully it wasn't too boring (it was more descriptions that dialogue), but I figured I'd get the more simple trial out of the way. The others will most likely span across multiple chapters.

The next shoutout goes to @unifish for leaving several amazing comments in the last chapter. I really appreciate your love for this book!

The trials will continue in the next chapter.