1 - The Trial

It took twenty Ala Mhigan guards to stop the crowd from murdering her on the steps of the Ala Mhigo Court of Justice.

Even then, it was a close thing.

"Garlean Dog, murderer, traitor!" The crowd roared repeatedly as Fordola Rem Lupis was steadily led up the steps, head up high, her eyes unblinking, gazing forward.

Despite her plain brown garments and how her hands were bound together in iron chains - the former Imperial collaborator maintained a certain amount of pride and dignity as she continued forwards. The armoured guards flanked her, shoving the braying mob back whenever they got too close.

Suddenly, as Fordola was nearing the top of the court steps, a Hyur woman lunged out from behind a column at her. Only the quick actions of two guards managed to stop her reaching Fordola, boldly grabbed arms on either side and forced the assailant down to her knees just short of her target. Fordola who saw the flash and glanced down saw the kitchen knife grasped in the woman's right hand even as one of the men twisted it from her grip.

"Murderer!" the woman cursed; her voice harsh with raw emotion. "Your wolves killed my husband," and spat; but from her position on the ground the missile landed short.

Fordola felt her heart twist as the energy of the mob intensified. She looked back over the city bathed in brilliant morning sunlight.

Her city – which she had sacrificed so much for.

Although she had known this day would happen and had spent the weeks preparing and hardening her heart for it after being trapped in a cell of a constant gloom and damp it was like being reborn – seeing her nation bathed in sun.

She had never known a moment as bittersweet as this.

The crying of the woman's two small children, who had been hanging back until now and finally chose to break forward to stand next to their mother, sobbing pitifully even as the knife lay glinting on the steps next to them – did not change Fordola's emotions.

"You, forward!" One of the few guards not fully tasked with holding back the loud crowd gave her a push with his broad shield, and she stumbled forward, before catching her footing.

The great oak doors of the Court of Justice were pulled open from inside and she walked in. Steadily she advanced down the hallway between two pews of hushed, seated spectators; all striving to catch a glimpse of her, yet afraid to meet her eyes. An air of feverish, suppressed expectation almost matching that of the crowd outside in its raw emotion.

The doors behind swung shut and the noise from the mob was suppressed as the guards took up station at the back of the chamber and Fordola continued, alone; down the centre aisle as her eyes steadily adjusted to the sudden change in light.

Finally, she reached the raised dais at the front of the pews and stepped carefully up to the top as required, the chains on her arms rattling as the last murmurs from the pews dropped away.

A huge tapestry swung from the rafters, the silver griffin with sword in talons on a brilliant field of purple, the flag of her city, Ala Mhigo.

It was funny – once the sight of this flag flying here would have filled her with such pride and joy, but now she felt…nothing. An empty void where once there had been a patriotic fire burning – that fire which had led her to ruination…well, then again, that's why she was here.

The towering rafters of the Ala Mhigo Court of Justice from which this flag hung were as pitiless as the faces sat across from her.

Flicker, a great white dragon,

Flicker, a snowy city of towering spires,

Flicker, a flower falling, tumbling into a ravine

Fordola muttered a curse and shook her head violently as the visions tried to pull her away from reality. For a moment she was pulled in two violently opposing directions, between dreams and reality, echoes and truth…but then the visions broke apart and she tasted blood and realised she had bit her lip in her struggle to break free.

Her Echo was strong.

"Court is now in session!" The voice cut through the hubbub behind her and Fordola refocused, at the semi-circle of chairs arrayed in front of her and the stony eyed individuals seated upon them. The speaker stood out, with his brilliant white hair, the scion called Alphinaud.

"Fordola Rem Lupis." the boy spoke, his tone prim and clear, it sounded perhaps a little too perfectly rehearsed. "You are here today, in the year 1573, to answer to the charges laid against you in this court of law. As a Scion of the 7th Dawn, I – Alphinaud Leveilleur, will serve as a neutral adjudicator for these proceedings." He paused for a moment before continuing, gesturing to one side. "To my immediate right sits representatives unanimously chosen by the Republic of Ala Mhigo's council members, General Raubahn Aldynn of the Eorzean Alliance and beside him, commander of the resistance troops of Ala Mhigo, Lyse Hext"

The man's eyes were two specks of coal amidst a bronze face, broad of body with arms that matched a tree trunks girth. Not a hint of mercy was to be found with the bull of Ala Mhigo and Fordola allowed her gaze to drift to the young woman sitting proudly next to him.

Fordola had heard the jokes from her male kinsmen during the occupation, the leader of the resistance was indeed attractive, and the younger woman's bold, red-trimmed, traditional Ala Mhigan garb accentuated her femininity. This, however, was mixed with a confidence and assertiveness, previously missing, which in turn had now sharpened some of her softer edges and Fordola found Lyse coolly meeting her gaze, the weight of their shared history - on opposing sides - flashing between them.

"To my immediate right and representing the Eorzean Alliance, Kan-E-Senna, head of the Gridania Seedseer Council and beside her, Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn, Chief Admiral and leader of Limsa Lominsa." Alphinaud continued with a note of hesitation in his voice, Fordola knew he had seen the charged look between the two women.

She forced herself to instead glance over to the diminutive seedseer, her arms folded on the table before her, eyes half shut, garbed in soft white robes with a haze of aether shimmering around her. This haze framed a seemingly ageless face, perfectly placed to hide the thoughts behind it.

Fordola did not bother to look at the Admiral perched on the end of the table; she knew only her death sentence would stare back at her.

"Finally!" Alphinaud continued, a bounce of levity entering his voice as if in relief at completing these most basic of introductions. "Not to pass judgement but to intercede as required, hero of the Eorzean alliance, saviour of Ala Mhigo and champion of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, our Warrior of Light!"

A rumble of approval resounded in the small crowd pressed together behind her and Fordola finally allowed her eyes to be drawn across the room, away from the table, almost to the wall. There, off to one side; where a woman of quiet almost insignificant bearing sat, a woman who nevertheless wielded unimaginable power.

The Warrior of Light radiated strength. Fordola could feel it, through her forced gift of the Echo it pricked her skin with waves of aetheric power. It aroused a hundred emotions within her, fear, hatred, kinship, awe, and yes, jealousy as well.

The Warrior had her eyes on the ground, a slight smile on her lips but this was carefully guarded. She was of a similar height to Fordola but wearing something far more eye-catching; unmistakably casual garb that somewhat clashed with her image of a multiple slayer of Gods, thorn in the Garlean Empire side and champion of the downtrodden masses.

Fordola studied her face and felt a strange tug within her.

It made her smile, they had talked several weeks back when the Warrior had been interested in learning Fordola's thoughts on fighting primals, and instead they had shared so much more through the mutual gift they shared.

They both had the Echo, willingly or not. The Warrior of Light had this burden unknowingly bestowed upon her by a being of tremendous power; while Fordola had knowingly had this forced on her by a man of twisted, tremendous desire. They had each stared into the other's heart, the other woman unwillingly, but Fordola had deliberately seen what the warrior had been through. That lasting moment had shook her to the coret.

They had each fought countless battles; been used, betrayed and equally cast aside by those that had professed to know them, ones that hated them, ones that loved them.

Each had striven for a better world as they saw it and clashed in the name of their beliefs, and yet they had also fought alongside each other, against a primal god itself. But Fordola, with all her bitter experiences, had only experienced a fraction of the betrayals and turmoils the champion of Eorzea had faced.

Fordola remembered how their conversation had continued long into the night; it was curious, she wondered if the white-haired brat before her knew the depth and extent of his champion's heart; she suspected not. There were also the words of Zenos...'she is one among millions, a warrior, a paladin, a healer, man or woman...'

Suddenly the Warrior of Light looked at her, Fordola saw the swirling eddies of aether coalesce and dance across her slender frame and Alphinauds voice died away as…

Flicker, a massive serpent screamed its defiance,

Flicker, a shadowy figure laughed as he vanished into a portal of darkness,

Flicker, a young woman with corded white hair up stared up at her in admiration.

Fordola groaned and broke eye contact, trying to raise a hand reflectively to her head. The cold press of the chains dug into her hand and she dragged her gaze back to the council that would decide her fate, this was no time for curious infatuations.

Alphinaud was now seated and Lyse had stood, clothes of shining red swathed her body – as defiant as the city state she now effectively ran and her tone was sharp.

"Fordola Rem Lupis, you are the last on a long list of names that we have stood in judgement for. People have stood where you stand now and pled ignorance of their crimes; others that their actions caused no harm and a few even glorified in their actions. I wonder – how will you explain your actions?"

Fordola said nothing but felt an old spark of defiance reignite and she jutted out her chin in defiance before holding back the words that almost left her mouth.

Lyse, perhaps seeing this moment come and go, continued. "We have discussed your crimes extensively over the preceding two days in open court, how you aided and colluded with the imperial forces, intimidated and coerced your fellow countrymen, stood at the right hand of the butcherer Zenos and how your personal actions led to the deaths of countless citizens and resistance members alike, how do you plead to your actions?"

"I was taught," Fordola began slowly, her tone rough in comparison and unused to forming sentences of late; "that history is written by the victor. Aye, I hated the Empire like any daughter of Ala Mhigo should, but I was brought up in a nation ruled by them. I was raised with the stories of our "proud" history beforehand, of the long line of weak kings, the excesses of the Fist of Rhalgr, the butchery and brutality of King Theodoric, the endless bloodshed of our glorious revolution that finally shook him off!" She spat at that, off to one side at that, warming to her tempo. "When the peasants rose up and the palace swam with the blood of noble and peasant alike – before the Garleans came to conquer our remains and our glorious revolutionary armies practically fell beside themselves to surrender and be fed and watered by the Empire in imprisonment!"

The crash of Rubahns fists smashing into the wooden table broke her monologue and Fordola saw Alphinaud flinch away from the man who now was leaning forward, a look of murder building in his eyes, venom dripping his tone, "What is your point butcher!?"

"My point…" Fordola was past caring, she had known her fate from the moment she saw the council. "My point is that I was brought up in a nation fed by the Garleans, rebuilt and even administered effectively by the Garleans. For nearly twenty years we were even starting to prosper like the Garleans – they were the law that decided guilt or innocence and I obeyed that law, I protected it. They brought wealth and jobs – more than ever with Baelsars Wall to the west fuelling a boom in stonemasons, labourers and craftsman alike."

"That was a wall constructed on the backs of slaves." Kan-E-Senna said softly, her voice still able to cut through the murmur of the disgruntled crowd behind Fordola. Kan-E-Senna was the perfect antithesis to the brute hostility of Rubahn. "We took in those that fled the construction of that towering monument to imperial tyranny, we heard the stories of the forced labour camps"

"Prisoners of war." Fordola retorted, but the seedseer had hit a chord. "Terrorist elements of the rebellion were sent to work on that wall, but only as a small portion of the overall workforce and they were lucky the Garleans set them to work, fed and watered. Did you see any captured Garleans at Rhalgrs Reach before this city fell?" The Seedseer said nothing and Fordola continued over the increasingly angry background hum of the watching citizens, "The people of Ala Mhigo are known for their labour and industries and many of our people went willingly to work on Imperial walls and Imperial defences for Imperial coin; don't pretend your morals are any better than theirs!"

"Enough!" Rubahn barked, cutting off all noise again, "You said you had a point, what was it?"

"My point is…" Fordola bit back choice curses, "Are you stringing up these civilian workers that built the defences you had to overcome? No, you focus on those few that fought for Garlean coin rather than most people that willingly cooperated with an Empire that brought stability and order." Fordola rose her voice as the Seedseer began to open her mouth again. "Some of the city elders of Ala Mhigo may still remember a time when they cheered the hosts of King Manfred when he burned the East Shroud and crushed Gridanian forces at Tinolqa. Now I hate the Empire for "oppressing" us – but I hate this pathetic vision sold to the masses, the idea that Ala Mhigo has a noble, proud history as an equal among other states when we have centuries of mad kings who led our cheering armies to rape and pillage our neighbours before turning on our people."

She paused with all eyes on her and finally felt the cold icy anger in her veins begin to fade away, wearily she looked down at her chained hands. "I tire of this, aye I served the Empire willingly and did willingly take the actions I thought would further the people of Ala Mhigo in the employ of the Empire, so take my head if that is your will."

Flicker, a goddess of gold and lapis lazuli bewitching in her gaze

Fordola angrily glanced to the silent Warrior of Light as she fought the vision back. "Yes, just as I helped slay the fade of Lakshimi to protect the people of Ala Mhigo alongside you, the vaunted hero, so did I cross blades with you to protect this city from its liberating forces. If you had failed you would still be known as terrorists and an unlawful rebellion, instead you get to be liberators restoring a nation back to its people as a republic. How long now until we appoint a new mad king?" Unbidden she glanced over at Lyse "or perhaps a queen?"

Rabahn snorted and looked away in disgust but Lyse looked concerned. "If you mean to undermine our new republic you will otherwise have to try harder. That said, your actions against Lakshimi alongside us were heroic and speak in your favour.'

"Unless she was simply looking out for her own neck." Admiral Merlwyb mused stroking her chin thoughtfully, her eyes harsh.

"The purpose of why we have called you today." Alphanuad spoke up again, looking at the high council, "Is to hear your side of events during the Ala Mhigan occupation, all of it – so that we may consider that against our deliberations these past few days."

"We ask only that you speak the truth." Lyse said "we will know if you aren't." She waved a hand towards the Warrior of Light.

"Did you wheel out your pet champion to read the minds of everyone accused of crime?" Fordola couldn't stop herself, before pausing. "I take that back - you have scant reason to trust me I suppose, alright then – it's a long tale – where should I start?"

"Give us as wide an overview as you can" Alphanuad suggested before the others could speak "What was it like under Imperial Occupation, what led you to form the skulls, what led your actions in the days leading up to the liberation of the city?"

"Tell us about the Imperial research into the Echo." Admiral Merlwyb added leaning forwards "give us the details on your chats with Zenos and we will consider a merciful fate."

"Your relationship with Zenos is of particular interest to us all." Alphanaud added. "We understand you had special access and several private discussions with him, the detail you can provide on this – his understanding of the Echo and our forces will count in your favour."

Fordola snorted "and tell you the dazzling tale of how I crossed blades with your champion, the one Zenos called friend." She stole a gaze sideways as the silent figure.

Flicker, great billowing storm clouds amidst floating islands of green, a God screaming defiance at the sky.

"Alright." She said more firmly. "Alright, let's start at the beginning with this story, I'll tell you how I got here, about Zenos, about his obsession with your champion and the Echo…I'll tell you everything and then you can decide…"