Last time on Blind Hope

"I see," the Councilman said. "So you didn't actually see them killed?" Gramm nodded, and again, the Councilman began pacing in front of the jury. "A few days later, His Majesty showed up. According to testimonies by the Royal Guards, neither Victoria nor Bruce put up much of fight when being arrested. Don't you think that's strange?"

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The trail broke for a recess. Dorian was obliged to speak with those in attendance, though he often through glances back at Hope. She was a hit among the Lunas, and to his displeasure, the young Alphas as well. One of them even dared to kiss her hand.

The Councilman sat at a little table in the corner and reviewed his notes. Prior to the trial, he had been investigating. There was one more person who he knew would shed some incrediable light on the case. He looked over to where Vivian sat, holding Hope's hand.

Vivian, too, was a hit among the Lunas. Blake didn't leave her side and smirked at Dorian when he caught him looking in Hope's direction. When Dorian saw the smirk, he squeezed the hand he was shaking to hard, and the man yelped, jerking back. Dorian had gruffly apologized and proceeded to ignore Blake for the remainder of the recess.

The High Elder stepped forward. "If everyone would take their seats, we will proceed." Those in attendance shuffled around until quiet once more entered the courtroom. "Councilman," he nodded at the younger man.

"Thank you, Elder. Now, I call the last witness to the stand. Someone who is perhaps the closest to the case. Luna Vivian, please approach." Vivian stood and walked forward, having been expecting to hear her name called. The High Elder swore her in, and the proceedings began.

"Now, Luna, please correct me if I'm wrong, but you have been with Queen Hope since birth, correct?"

"Yes."

"You grew up as her Protector, correct?"

"No. I grew up as her sister." Vivian's eyes flashed, but she quickly controlled herself.

"I see. My apologies. But that was a role you played?"

"...yes."

"Will you please explain why you were hired to be her Protector?" Vivian blinked, confused.

"I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"Please humor me, then." Vivian huffed, and Hope barely hid a smirk. Vivian hated telling people Hope was blind. It amused Hope to no end.

"Hope was born to two Alphas who weren't mates. It was a scandal if ever there was one."

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Tammy held Victoria's hand as she cried out in pain, but when a small cry pierced the air, all that pain disappeared. "Give me my pup," Victoria whispered. Tammy laughed in joy when she looked down at the little Alpha pup.

"She's so sweet." Tammy gently picked her up and handed her to Victoria. "Look at those eyes..."

"She's beautiful." Victoria smiled down, rocking the little pink think. She cried and whimpered, and Victoria purred - her wolf had fallen in love with pup and was already thinking of their future. Victoria's wolf, however, grew very still as she made contact with her baby's wolf. "Tammy!" Victoria cried, alarmed. "She already has a wolf!"

"WHAT!?" Tammy reached out, and there it was - a faint recognizable presence of a wolf. "That's never happened!" Tammy groaned, her hand going to her own bulging stomach. "Oh, goddess, my water broke." Now it was Victoria's turn to yelp.

"WHAT!? But we're in no condition to have two babies!" Victoria looked around at the cave they were trapped inside. Regardless of the circumstances, Tammy did have her baby in that cave.

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"Ah, excuse me, Luna. I think you went back a little too far." The Councilman interrupted, but Vivian shushed him.

"Nonsense. They got to tell their stories, and I'm going to tell mine. Now shut up and listen." Blake chuckled, nudging the Alpha beside him.

"She's a firecracker."

"Before you proceed, Luna... You said that Hope was born with her wolf, but couldn't shift until later?"

"Correct."

"I see. Please continued."

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Victoria and Tammy clutched their naked babies to their bodies, worried and very tired. "We need a hospital," Victoria said hoarsely. She looked down at her baby in despair. "I think Hope is blind." Vivian began to kick and cause quite a fuss in Tammy's arms. Tammy looked at Hope and down at her child. She moved closer to Hope, and Vivian stopped fusing.

"That's strange..." Victoria sighed, as if relieved.

"Maybe they'll be good friends." She closed her eyes and leaned back. "Tammy?"

"Alpha?"

"You have to promise me that you and John, whenever he arrives, will take care of Hope for me, okay? My parents hate her already, and when they see she's blind... No matter what happens, you have to protect her - regardless of the opponent, okay? Bruce feels the same" Tammy nodded, holding her baby with one hand and Victoria's hand in the other.

"As top warrior, I swore to protect you, and now I pass that promise on to your child."

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Vivian cleared her throat. "So, yeah. Hope and I grew up together, and it was just expected that I'd protect her, I guess?"

"Did you resent that?"

"For a little bit, but then I realized that Hope truly was a great person. It doesn't bother me anymore. I'm proud to be her friend."

"I see." The jury was confused by this sudden change of questioning, but it all made sense when the Councilman asked his next question. "And are you still proud to be the friend who was a direct result of your parents' death?" The whole room froze, and Hope gasped. Tears threatened to spill, and Dorian wrapped his arm around her. Before he could chide the Councilman, Vivian did.

"How. Dare. You." Vivian stood, her eyes flashing. "Hope is not the reason my family bond broke! My parent's are dead because those two idiots killed them!" Vivian pointed at Victoria and Bruce. They refused to look at her.

"I see. Please calm down, Luna. So you believe your parents to be dead, correct?"

"Yes! Of course! What else does the bond snap mean!?" Tears were piling at the corners of her eye.

"But bonds can be broken without death."

"AND WHAT REASON DO MY PARENTS HAVE TO DO THAT!?" Dorian stood angrily.

"Councilman! What are you doing!?"

"Establishing a basis, Your Majesty. I now know that Luna Vivian is extremely loyal to the Queen and believes her parents to be dead. She's defensive about the matter which means she still hopes they're alive. After all - no body, no crime." Vivian collapsed back into her seat.

"You're cruel." She sniffled. "Why would I have hope? Why?" Hope struggled to reach Vivian, but Dorian held her back. The Queen couldn't just approach someone on the witness stand. "There's no reason for them to break the bond."

"I apologize, Luna." The Councilman seemed to take a few steps back, but he had succeeded in his mission. Vivian could be very abrasive. By making her more vulnerable, her telling of the events would become more reliable. Now in an emotional state, she would be more likely to notice more details. "Since you were with the Queen all the time, you went through everything she did, right?"

"Yes."

"While Queen Hope could experience things, you would see them, correct?"

"Yes..."

"Will please recount the story of the day Her Majesty met with Victoria and Bruce for the last time?" Vivian's jaw clenched.

"Yes."

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