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by Chris Kenworthy (scoobyhq@fcmail.com)
Disclaimer: None of the characters or worlds of the Buffy show belong to me, especially Rupert Giles. Miranda Lindley, Warren Giles, and Derek Lindley-Giles are joint property of the Avatar Chronicles group.
Mister Lindley showed up shortly after lunch. I spent most of the morning sitting alone, trying to digest the revelation that my dreams had forced upon me. Princess. Miranda. As much as we had chafed and butted heads since we met, I had to admit that I've never met anybody remotely like her. Beautiful, intelligent; open-minded, (which is more than I can say for most of these git watchers,) and a hell of a sense of humor. It wasn't that much of a stretch to say I loved her, if any.
Did she feel the same way? Could she possibly?? Unlike the rest of the watchers, she had cared about me, looked out for me, from day one. But her father had been the one to track me down to Ethan's. Was it all just a family project, coupled with her own natural empathy?? She could hardly have loved me before she met me. Or... could she? Lindley and my old man worked together. I could have been presented as a potential match indirectly, and it has been known for people to develop crushes on those they hardly know. Or she could hardly care about me at all.
I didn't come to any other conclusions, which meant lunch quite a depressing meal, as you might imagine. The Templars escorted us all to a small consultation office, me, Princess, and Merrick Lindley.
"So, Rupert," Merrick said after the courtesies were done. "The charges you are going to face are desertion of your post and your oath, practicing dark magic and felonious misuse of enchantment. These are serious charges, but not too grave, and I believe that the circumstances are to your credit, Rupert. Miranda says that there are more serious charges that could be levelled, but the prosecution is unaware of them."
I thought about that for a second. My complicity in Randall Myers' death, yes, that was probably some devious sort of liable manslaughter in the watchers' disciplinary codes. And summoning Eyghon, a demon of the darkness, upon the earth was demonism in the first degree, a more grievous charge that practicing dark magic. "Yes."
"Well, then, in advising you, I must ask if you wish to resume your calling with the watchers," Merrick said softly.
"Why? I mean, what difference would that make?"
"If you were planning to cut all ties, I would reccomend silence. Like the conventional courts, the watchers would not require that you testify against yourself. But if you plan to pick up your career as a watcher where you left it," the older watcher sighed, "honesty is the only practical option. Your indiscretions would surface eventually. Admitting to them here and now will mitigate their severity, while concealing them will increase it."
"Okay," I sighed. "Level with me - what kind of punishment could I be looking at here."
"I don't know," Merrick admitted. "Personally, I would reccomend a light sentence in service to the community that you turned your back on over these past few months. Justice is meaningless if not tempered with mercy. But there are conservatives in the council, and I'm not sure how wisespread their views have become, or how hard they'd come down on you." He sighed. "Raleigh has taken the chair, and that's good, he's a fair and sympathetic man. But I can't make you any promises that I'd be happy about saying, Rupert."
"Okay." I thought about that for a few seconds. "Well, thank you for your honesty, mister Lindley."
"Oh, and one more thing," Merrick said absent-mindedly. "Your father will be there at the arraignment, Rupert. To testify against you. I'm so sorry."
I could feel the sensation, as if a tiny toothpick was poking into my heart. "That's alright. I should have expected it."
Princess looked over at me with a sad expression, as if she could feel exactly what I was going through. "Dad, there's nothing more we need to cover right now, is there?"
Merrick blinked, a little surprised. "Well, no, sweetheart. Why?"
She turned to me again. "Come on, Rupert. I know just the thing to cheer you up. Well, maybe not cheer you up - that's a tall order. But take the edge off of your sorrows."
I suffered myself to be led away. "Where... where are we going?" 'Take the edge off...' that was a phrase a lot of people I knew used when talking about liquor. My father... Ethan... but somehow I knew that wasn't what Princess had in mind.
"The Tojo flower garden." She must have read the surprise off of my face. "Don't give me that look. They're beautiful, peaceful, and inspiring."
And it was, in point of fact. Flowers of every color and shape that I could conceive of (and several I would never have thought possible,) had been planted stretching across an area as wide in each dimension as a rugby field. Sitting there, in the bench at the center of the garden that Princess had reccommended, I could somehow sense that the selection and placement of each blossom, as well as the lay of the ground itself had been carefully picked as an element of an art that I could study for twenty years and still only scratch the surface of.
"Kanbun Tojo is someone else who's been working with our fathers," Miranda mentioned, as she took in a deep breath of the evening air and admiring the scenery. "He has children too, but a little younger than us. Kikuko's sixteen years old, but Akira's only twelve."
I nodded vaguely, not caring much about the details of the members of the Tojo clan, but enjoying sitting here with Princess.
"So, do you want to be a watcher again, Rupert??"
The question startled me, and when I looked over into Princess' beautiful face, I could tell that she was surprised that she had asked it. But I knew what my answer was. "Yes. Yes, I very much do. I have no idea if the council will let me keep my deputizing, and I still don't agree with my father's attitudes or Quentin Travers' methods, but being a watcher is what I want to do with my life." (By the by, 'deputizing' really is the right word there. It means a commission, commitment or assignment. Rupert.)
"I'm glad to hear that," Princess whispered softly, touching my hand ever so sweetly with her fingers. "I think you have a lot of making ready to do, though. I'll leave you be." And she was gone. I haven't seen her again, not even at dinner.
May 12th.
My hearing began today. I am a man on trial.
It began with the formal Rite of the accuser, with Father and Quentin Travers accusing me of abandoning my birthright and deserting my post respectively, and Captain Taylor laying the charges about dark magic. Then the evidence was presented by the prosecution - a fair lot of it, saying nothing that everybody didn't already know probably. Lindley says he'll be up for defense tomorrow, and will have me say my side of the story.
Princess seems distant today, still. Have I done something to upset her? Could she tell how I feel, somehow, and she's staying away because she doesn't feel the same way? There's no way that I can tell.
May 13th.
Old man Merrick, (I don't know why I think of him that way, he's not that old, but I do,) reminded me over breakfast that I was going up on the stand today. It's not like I would have forgotten something like that. Princess was at breakfast with us too, but she was still giving me the silent treatment, aside from 'Good morning' and 'hello.'
As I stood outside the council room, though, getting my courage up for the witness stand, she came up to me. Before I could decide on what to say to her, she'd wrapped her hands, (those perfect, delicate, strong hands,) around my neck and kissed me quickly and thoroughly on the lips. "Good luck, Rupert," she said as I was recovering from the shock. "Knock 'em dead." And then she giggled, that utterly irresistable schoolgirl giggle, just as if she couldn't believe what she'd just said. And then, when her father came over, she was acting all somber and such again. Was that all that her cold shoulder act was about, being worried about her father's disapproval? No, I didn't think so - Mister Lindley liked me fine. Well, he understood where I was coming from. That can be quite a ways from 'sure, son, you can date my daughter,' I suppose.
Still, she could find some way to talk to me more without Lindley knowing, if she really wanted to. Well, that's girls for you, I suppose. I sure can't figure them.
Telling my story to the watcher's council was... mortifying. The most embarassing, humiliating experience of my life. And yet, there was a cleansing element too. I was getting the truth out, because it was something that I'd decided to do. I did get a lot of shocked expressions, when I got to the demon and death bits, but there were understanding faces too.
After all of the clarifications and questions, it had taken more than nine hours, (some lunch was brought in,) and I was quite ready to just come back to my room and sleep. Somehow I suspect I'm going to have nightmares again tonight.
May 14th, afternoon.
The news this morning was that the Council would be in camera, (meaning a closed session, with nobody who wasn't an actual council member,) discussing various matters including my case until late this afternoon or this evening, so there was little to do but wait. I tried to speak to Miranda, convince her to come someplace where we could talk, but she was diffident again, saying that she had 'some letters to write.' Letters to write?? What was that??
So I played about three hours' worth of chess with Lindley this morning, talking a bit more about general watcher stuff, aspirations and stuff. Then we went by a barbecue patio in the Castle courtyard for lunch, and I asked if I could go into town for the afternoon.
Someone else came with me - the young guy Matthew who was with Princess' team when they caught me, the one the vampires bit. He looks all healed now, but I think he wouldn't be very effective as a guard if I decided to make a break for it. That's the last thing on my mind, of course, and it's possible that Matt didn't even come to keep an eye on me. I doubt that last though.
So, we drove into the nearest town, a small place, and I browsed for some new magazines and books, and had a coffee surrounded by non-Watchers, which felt pretty nice. Then it was time to come back and see if the Council had come to any decision, which of course they hadn't. So I decided to catch up on this diary.
Oh, I almost forgot. I bought something for Princess too - this little brooch in the shape of a cat that made me think of her. I'll go see if I can find her right now.
(Late evening nearing midnight.)
Well... I, I can hardly think of what words to write, I'm so in shock. I can't even remember where I last was... (goes and checks back on the last page.) Oh, right. The little brooch for princess, ha ha. I gave it to her, all right, and she didn't have much to say, not right then. Made a big fuss about how she couldn't accept it, and I insisted, and she relented, but it made her even quieter. I suppose I can see why, now.
The council kept us waiting all through dinner, and most of the evening. Merrick told Princess that she should go and relax herself. There's a little dance club in the basement of the Castle it seems, for the benefit of the younger people, and she agreed that she'd go and try to find some friends or something. I put in that it sounded like fun, and Miranda shot so dark a look at me that I decided it wouldn't be a good idea to put in an appearance this time.
I spent the darkening hours working by myself. Going over the Eyghon incident with the council had freshened it in my mind, and a few ideas for strengthening demon protection spells occured to me. They're looking pretty promising, actually - if I can get them finished and testing maybe my experience could help save the lives of others. Not that that would justify what I'd done, but it would help, you know??
And then Matt poked his head into my room, at quarter to ten. "Council's opened doors - they want to see you, Giles." I hurried with him back to the council room. (You know, he's not such an annoying kid, really.)
Lindley was already there when I took my defendant's seat - also Captain Taylor, Quentin Travers, my father, and Brawny... Princess came in through the side door, a second later. My god!! When I first saw her, I couldn't even remember what I was doing there. She was all decked out in a sleeveless dark blue dress, the hem coming down past her knees but slit up one side almost to her hip, and she looked as gorgeous as I'd ever seen her. No, that doesn't even nearly come close to describing her. She looked more beautiful, and sexy, than I'd ever believed any woman could be. (Merrick frowned when he saw her - but then, most fathers would, wouldn't they??)
The council members weren't actually in the room at this point, but they chose to make their entrance as Princess was taking her seat, slowly filing in with the utmost dignity and taking their own seats. The council chairman, Edmund Raleigh, tapped the chime in front of him once and rose again. "Rupert William Giles, would you please stand?"
I stood. (I half expected Merrick to stand as well, but apparently that's one bit of courtly procedure that the watcher's don't copy.) "Mister Giles," another member of the council intoned, "are you ready to face the decision of this disciplinary committee?"
Do I have any choice, I wondered. (And yes, if you're wondering, having the council 'act as' a disciplinary committee sounds strange to me too. Why can't they just call the council a council?) I cleared my throat and said "Yes, sirs."
As Raleigh unfolded a piece of paper, I noticed that a few of the council, (the ones that Lindley had pointed out as conservatives,) were frowning. My heart filled with all the hope I could pour in, I took that as a good sign. "Being a watcher, especially in this 'modern' day and age, is a serious duty and responsibility. As disciplinary committee, we cannot condone immaturity of a student watcher well past the age of responsibility, nor recklessness, insubordination, negligence, or willful violation of the rules we seek to enforce on the safe and wise use of magic. By his own admission, Rupert William Giles has done all these things."
Uh-oh. That did not sound good.
"And yet, no matter the stakes, we cannot condemn human nature, for that is the strength and the weakness of each of us. The flesh or mortality is weak, and the spirits of youth often reckless. The members of this committee have not by any means agreed on the proper way to respond in the case of Rupert William Giles. But a deciding majority, five out of the nine of us, have agreed that he should suffer no harsh punishment. His own account of this incident will be transcribed into his watcher record, as a reprimand to him and a warning to others. Future duties and assignments over the next few months, or years if necessary, will be chosen to instill the respect that was so clearly seen to be lacking when Rupert Giles became 'Ripper.' That is all."
As soon as Raleigh had stopped talking, Travers was on his feet. "That's all??" he roared.
Raleigh struck the chime again. "That is the final decision of this committee. I believe that the four members of this court who disagreed with it have prepared an alternative statement," and here Raleigh turned to fix a short stare at one of his co-councillors, "but I do not believe that need be read out at this time. It will be entered into the public record." He chimed one last time. "This tribunal is adjourned."
Travers stormed out of the courtroom. I found all kinds of people coming up to me, and I was being offered congratulations by Merrick, by Taylor. Father, when his turn came to shake my hand, said only "You're lucky, Rupert," which is more sensitive than I expected of him. And then, just as suddenly, the courtroom cleared, and I was all alone.
Except for Princess.
I turned to her, still so gorgeous she could probably stop my heart without half trying. I was high on life in that moment, and I threw caution to the winds. "Princess, I'll never forgive myself if I don't say this, so don't interrupt until I'm done. I think I'm in love with you, and you probably don't love me and I know I've done something to offend you and I'm sorry, I grovelingly apoligize and please don't hate me, even if we can't be together I'd be perfectly happy just being friends, I just can't bear the thought of you not being in my life." Whew, that was longer and more rambling than I'd anticipated. "Okay, I'm done now."
Princess stared down for quite a few long seconds, then turned her face up to meet mine. There were tears in her eyes, (and I could feel my own suddenly start to water,) but she was smiling. "I could never hate you, Rupert. And you haven't done anything to offend me. Rather the opposite, I'm afraid." She got up, perching on the edge of the table, and kissed me again. "I love you too!!" I kissed her back then, a long, passionate french that started to get side-tracked into various interesting places when...
"But, but... Rupert??" I finally twigged that she wanted me to stop kissing her neck and looked at this beautiful, amazing girl face-to-face. "There's something that I have to tell you, and I'm horribly afraid that it shall be you that hates me after I do."
"There's no way in this world or any other that that could possibly happen," I babbled giddily at her. "As long as we have each other's love, we can deal with anything!! What is it??"
She swallowed briefly. "Rupert, I'm to marry your brother."
I froze, staring at her. So pretty, so nervous, her skin so pale as she said the words. I waited a few seconds, to see if there would be any more, but there wasn't.
I turned around, left the tribunal room, and didn't stop walking until I got back here to my room.
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