Myra was escorted to the great hall by Ser Alton. She had been sent to her chambers when they arrived back at the city, and kept there without visitors for the past forty eight hours. She had been told nothing of what was to come next, but she had a guess. She knew the moment they had been caught that her brother was going to make his play. He was the heir to their father's thrown, but King Merwyn was likely to live for centuries to come. Prince Myron wanted what Myra had, land, wealth, position, and the admiration of the realm. This was his chance to be rid of her, and claim all that for himself.
Myra had made sure to look her best. She didn't care at all for outward appearances, but she knew the high court did. Considering what she would be accused of, she thought it best to look as regal as possible. She had on a long white silken gown that flowed behind her as she walked. The gown contained her voluptuous body, while still hugging it quite nicely. Her long silver hair she had braided in the old fashion. To accentuate the look, she wore her grandmother's old necklace of pearl and diamond, the crown jewel of the king's royal line.
Ser Alton walked Myra to the large golden door that led into the hall, and stopped. She could hear the herald calling out titles and names inside, and wondered how many her brother had summoned to witness her embarrassment. The large golden door opened slightly, and Ser Lewyn of the king's guard stepped out, wearing the same shining white armor as Ser Alton. The two soldiers nodded to each other, and then ushered Myra forward, into the hall.
As she walked into the hall, she heard much murmuring ringing throughout the hall. She looked around as she walked slowly forward, and felt her stomach drop. Myron had brought many more than she had expected, which only deepened her suspicions. On her right were dozens of elven lords and ladies, watching her be marched to the front of the hall with curious expressions. Clearly Myron had not told them what had happened. To her left were seated twelve lords of men. Some of them looked as noble as the elves, while other were bearded gruff looking men, scowling down at her as she made her walk of shame.
Seated at the front of the hall were the king, queen, prince, and the high council of elves. From the expressions on their faces, Myra guessed that they knew what she was being accused of. Her father's normally jovial face was like a mask of stone. He watched her walk without expression, not taking his eyes off her. Her mother sat beside him, looking as regal as ever, but with a definite air of sadness about her. Myron had a smug look of contempt on his face, and a snide little smile.
"The Princess Myra, daughter of King Merwyn, Lord of the Realms of elves and men," the herald called out as Myra reached the pulpit and climbed the three steps. The two king's guard took up their places in front of the thrown, and then Myra felt quite alone. She looked around for Elia, expecting her to be standing trial as well, but didn't see her anywhere. The king slowly rose to his feet, still staring down at his daughter emotionlessly.
"Princess Myra has been accused of a truly vile act," the king's voice rang out through the great hall. "Now she must answer the accusations, and if necessary, stand trial."
"Who would dare accuse our princess," Lord Harwyn of the high council asked.
"I do," Myron said, rising to his feet as well. A slight murmur spread through the crowd at this. "I witnessed my sister committing a most despicable and vile act, and I was not alone. My good uncle and Ser Alton were witness as well."
"What was this vile act you speak of?" Lord Harwyn asked. The king sat back down in his thrown, no longer able to look at his daughter.
"The princess, along with the lady Elia," Myron spoke loudly, his voice echoing through the silent hall as everyone listened eagerly, "were caught laying with an ogre." The crowd broke into a raucous, and Myron waited for them to calm down. "I witnessed it myself. They had carnal knowledge of the fell beast."
"This cannot be," Lord Harwyn said, and several others loudly agreed. "The princess and the lady Elia are both noble, in name and nature. I have known them both their entire lives. I do not believe these rumors."
"Uncle, tell Lord Harwyn what we witnessed," Myron said, turning to Lord Merryll. Merryll looked more than a bit uneasy. He glanced from the prince, to the princess, and finally to the king. He rose slowly to his feet, looking like he would rather be anywhere but there.
"We did indeed witness the princess and lady Elia laying together," Merryll said. "They were in the nude, though they had been swimming. And, there was an ogre with them."
"Did you witness the ladies having carnal knowledge of this beast, as the prince says," Lord Harwyn demanded.
"I did not," Merryll said uncomfortably.
"Tell them the rest uncle," Myron said. "Tell them all that we witnessed." Merryll glanced again from the prince, to the princess, to the king. He looked as though he was having a terrible inner debate. Finally he took a long sigh, looking away from Myra, and spoke.
"The ogre was nude as well," Merryll said. "And, its... the beast was aroused." More murmurs spread through the hall.
"What else uncle," Myron said loudly, cutting through the chatter. "Tell them all."
"The ladies were, they had," Merryll was clearly struggling to find a way to say it. He didn't know what Myron had told his father, or mother, and Merryll did not want to be the one whom everyone heard the words from.
"Say it uncle!" Myron shouted.
"The ladies were covered in the ogre's seed," Merryll said, and then sat back down with his head in his hands. There was no murmur this time. The entire hall fell deathly silent. Myra could see the shocked looks on everyone's faces. Then she saw her mother, a single tear running down her royal face. The king slowly rose again, his face even harder than it had been before.
"Speak now daughter," the king said to Myra. "What is the truth of this matter? Does my brother speak truly?"
"He speaks truly," Myra said, and this time there was a thunderous murmur, which died as soon as the king rose his hand.
"Did you then have carnal knowledge of this beast?" The king asked, and Myra could not mistake the tone of his voice.
