A Fake Trial

Ethan and Mia had frozen in their tracks as the two had heard footsteps approaching them.

“I think it's the minister. Hurry, you have to hide.”

Ethan pointed towards a tall stone pillar and Mia ran behind it and stood there nervously. The minister stamped his feet loudly as he walked.

“Minister,” Ethan said panting, “The witch is going to be killed. I've taken care of everything. I'm very hungry now. Can you please have the dinner sent to my room?”

The minister raised an eyebrow and looked at Ethan. He was starting to suspect something weird as Ethan continued to speak.

“You must rest. It's been a long day. I will be in my room if you need anything,” Ethan said signaling the Minister to go back.

“Are you sure are ok? You look tired? Did the witch try to harm you?” the minister was concerned.

“No. How could she have? She couldn't even move with those heavy iron ropes.”

Ethan had managed to guide Mia into his room without anyone noticing. Her pale skin with bruises made her look rather weak and her bright blue eyes looked puffy and tired.

“Mia, you can rest in the other bed in the right corner of my room. I'll make sure no one is entering without my permission,” Ethan said leading her to a huge hall inside his room with a single bed.

Mia nodded. She was extremely scared and didn't know if she could trust Ethan but she was also surprised. Nobody had spoken to Mia with so much respect.

“Sir,” me and said under her breath, “Sir, I haven't eaten in days. Can you please provide me with some food?”

Ethan looked at Mia with sympathy. The poor girl was suddenly looking rather skinny and weak. He then smiled before he spoke,

“Of course. I've asked the Minister to send me my dinner. You can have some of the food with me.”

The dinner arrived a few minutes later, the minister carried a large tray with a huge roasted turkey and some vegetables and rice. Ethan looked at the quantity of food before him with astonishment. Mia sat at the table and stared at her plate full of food. Her eyes were teary as, she hadn't eaten in so long. She couldn't believe Ethan's kindness. She wiped a big fat tear from her cheek as she spoke,

“Sir, I am so grateful for this food. When I was in custody, I was not fit a morsel. Thank you sir.”

Mia looked at Ethan like he was some god.

“Please miss. Don't thank me. I'm only doing the right thing. Besides, I asked you not to call me sir. Please call me Ethan.”

Ethan had a huge smile on his face. He looked at Mia as she slowly picked up her cutlery to cut into the turkey. He continued speaking in a polite tone,

“So Mia, you're a witch? How and when did you learn witchcraft? And why did the villagers hate witches? Have you done them any harm?”

Ethan was full of questions. Mia chewed her food slowly. Even though she was famished, she didn't want to look greedy. She swallowed her food before speaking,

“I was born in Esther City. I was abandoned as a baby so an old lady raised me. She was the only witch back then in the entire village. She taught me witchcraft and its various powers for my survival.”

Mia was sounding a lot better, “The villagers have always thought of witches as supporters of evil. They think we're demons because witchcraft teaches you some really strong powers. But witches don't use their powers unnecessarily or harm people unless they're in danger themselves. I don't know if it's fear or hatred really. They have always blamed us for all the attempts and disasters from demon kind. And they even spread rumors about witches saying we steal their babies and destroy their homes.”

Mia looked at Ethan as she spoke, it seemed like she had always wanted to get this off her chest and express herself to someone. She then suddenly teared up before she spoke again,

“Ethan, if you don't have me killed, the villagers are going to be very angry with you. They're going to create havoc around this village. You will have to sacrifice my life.”

“Ethan looked at Mia with a serious expression.

“No, I will not let that happen. You are charged for treason unnecessarily. And as the king, I cannot have innocent people killed. I already have a plan. Listen to me carefully,” Ethan said as he chomped on his Turkey and rice, “We have to fake the trial. Tell me, were there other prisoners in the dungeons with you?”

Mia was surprised at Ethan's words. She stared at Ethan and was lost in his words. Ethan asked again, “Mia, tell me, were there other prisoners?”

“ Yes, there was one other man who was charged for murder. He had stabbed an innocent man in the market and robbed him. His trial was supposed to happen last week, but his close friend brought in bags of money trying to bribe the Minister for bail. So his trial was put on hold,” Mia continued, “You see, money can do anything. The minister kept the money so that he could convince the king later. This man has been charged for murder for years now. Even if he is charged for treason, someone brings in bags of money and bribes the cunning minister and he gets away with the crime every single time.”

Mia was done eating; her plate was empty. Ethan couldn't believe the kind of unjust practices that were happening in his kingdom. He suddenly felt responsible for everything. He then wiped his mouth with the tablecloth before he spoke,

“This is unbelievable. This must stop. We will have the criminal hung and fake the trial. The villagers will be made to believe it was you. I have to plan very smartly. You cannot talk about this with anyone until then, it stays between us Mia.”

Me nodded and then smiled. She would have never thought that the king himself would help save her life. She was relieved and her bright blue eyes were now sparkling. She got up slowly from her chair and thanked Ethan for her meal. She then slowly walked towards her bed in the corner to rest. Ethan sat in his chair with a million thoughts running in his head. He had promised me that he would save her life. But Could he really fake a trial?

He was the king after all, and everyone had to listen to his orders. Ethan then summoned the Minister to his room. When the minister arrived at his door, Ethan quickly open the door and asked the Minister to wait outside. He then got out of his room and walked in the huge hallway and he spoke to the minister sternly.

“Minister there will be some changes from now on. First of all, no one is allowed to enter my room without permission. Secondly, no one is allowed to be part of the trials that will commence from now on; I will fully handle the witch’s killing and all the other trials,” Ethan said in an assertive tone.

The minister looked at Ethan weirdly, he was starting to suspect something but he had to listen to the king’s orders.

“That will be all. You can go to your room and rest now. Tomorrow, the witch’s trial will commence at sunrise. Please make all the necessary arrangements.”

After the minister left, Ethan quickly tried to scurry back into his room. Just as he was about to step back inside, one of the guards came running towards Ethan's room. The guard was panting and he tried to catch his breath before he spoke,

“ Sir, the witch is missing. She has escaped the dungeons.”