Chapter 50: El Cid, the Death Knight [7] - Liar!
Although Chimene trusted Rodrigo completely, she still wanted to know what he had done.
"What did you do, Rodrigo?", her voice was a little bit shaky, but with a gulp, she asked while maintaining her composure.
"I let a man live…"
"No. Five men.", Rodrigo lowered his head, now his gaze touched the ground.
Hearing that, Chimene was puzzled, "But how can they call it treason?"
"Death to the Moors!", just as she had finished her sentence, a loud roar of the men from the court surprised her.
"Who are these five men?", Chimene asked as she turned towards the courtroom, taking a few steps forward.
Rodrigo came from behind and hugged her gently. He then proceeded to whisper, "Emirs."
The moment she heard this, she swiftly turned around. Her eyes were wide open, both in surprise and fear, "Moors? You let Moors live? Why?"
"I'm… I'm not sure why. I don't know…"
"I think it happened in a weird way. It happened strangely…"
"I was on my way to meet you."
"And…"
"I- I can't even remember where I was. Uh…"
"There must have been roads… some trees and people."
"But… all I remember is your face. I remember, at that time, I wanted to see you!", as he circled her, he narrated his experience.
'Damn, what lines… I must note them down.', Allen concentrated his mind, memorizing what was being spoken. Perhaps someday, he could make use of these.
"And…"
"There was a battle."
It was not too surprising that Rodrigo was involved in battles, but what surprised Chimene was what Rodrigo said after.
"I fought too, but my heart wasn't in my sword. I kept seeing your face."
"And then, suddenly I thought, why…? Just why are we killing each other?"
"True, they're Moors, and we're Christians—", he pulled her hands again, making her come closer.
"Chimene... do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
She lowered her gaze as she heard that. Withdrawing her hands, she turned away and walked a few steps, slowly and steadily.
"Yes, but... there always have been wars between us."
"I know.", Rodrigo quickly walked to her, to provide further explanation.
"It has been this way always…"
"You don't think, then... we could live in peace?", as these words left Rodrigo's mouth, a loud roar echoed from the court that was a combination of many men! Leading it was Gormez.
"Silence!"
"Will you keep quiet, the both of you!", the speaker tried to control, but Gormez merely walked to the front.
"Your majesty, this is not a charge I would bring lightly against any man... especially a man who in a short time was to be my son."
"I wouldn't hit my own feet with a hammer, will I now, your majesty?"
"However, a man who frees your enemies… may it be my own son or not, I must call such a man 'Traitor'."
"Your Majesty, he is destroying the honor of our family.", Don Diego, with his shaky husky voice, spoke up.
"I can't let that happen."
"I, too, was once the King's champion."
"So-"
"That was many years ago, Don Diego."
"Perhaps it will be better to leave the matter in our hands.", the king spoke up, his voice rough and heavy that commanded utmost attention.
"No, your majesty. There were things said here which cannot be forgotten in the royal assembly.", Diego was not ready to let the matter go.
He turned towards Gormez and in a fit of rage, marched towards him.
The knights that surrounded Gormez instantly came to his front, ready to protect him, but Diego, albeit storming, maintained a safe distance.
"Count Gormez of Oviedo, when you call my son traitor, I cannot help but call you a liar!"
"Were you present at the scene? Did you see it happen in front of your eyes?"
"No! Obviously not!"
"It was Count Ordonez who appeared at the place, calling my son traitor for a small act of kindness. Hearing his words, you dare blame my son and call him a traitor?"
"You liar!"
Hearing that, Count Gomez turned towards the king who sat watching the entire scene unfold.
"I am the King's champion. There is no man who would dare enough to call me a liar…"
"And if they do, I wouldn't hesitate to draw their blood, even if it's a pitiful old man.", Gormez mocked Diego indirectly, but at the same time, controlled himself. He had a big ego, and calling him names made him extremely angry.
But hearing his words, Diego couldn't control his fury and raised his voice, like that of thunder, "LIAR!"
Further angered by this, Gormez took about three steps, approaching Diego and slap-threw his gloves on Diego's face, almost causing him to fall.
Slap!
If not for Fanez, Diego would have been on the ground.
Diego, balancing himself with Fanez's support, noticed the glove which Gormez issued, meaning, he challenged the old man to a duel - A duel to death!
The fury began from both sides as they were angered by the disrespect that Gormez caused and at the same time, Ordonez's men were ready to chop and kill the soldiers from Vivar simply because Gormez's pride was hurt.
If not for the king and his order to halt the trial, there would have been bloodshed!
Hearing about the halt, Gormez stormed away followed by Ordonez and his men after the king left. The same was true for Diego, who walked slowly.
Rodrigo joined him soon, noticing some red mark on his face.
"Father, that-", but Diego refused to speak. He merely continued walking like an old man.
Rodrigo wanted to support him, but Diego refused to take any help. He continued to walk away towards the garden, where he would wait for the trial to commence in an hour.
Confused, Rodrigo demands an answer from Fanez.
"What exactly happened in the trial? Why is father so… sad? And what-"
Before Rodrigo could complete his set of questions, Fanez, with reddened eyes stared right at Rodrigo.
"My lord, Count Gormez, he-", and then he explained the entire situation.
Rodrigo, who otherwise kept a calm exterior always, was for the first time, enraged. His eyes went bloodshot and his hair danced in the cool wind that blew past, which appeared as if his fury had spread to his hair.
Allen, who had changed his perspective into first person perspective, could feel Rodrigo's anger… it was as if the entire body was boiling in hot oil!
"If not for Lord Diego stopping me, I would have killed Gormez then and there!", Fanez added as he gripped the hilt of his sword.
And Rodrigo, hearing that, did nothing but clench his fist, controlling himself until the trial was resumed…
About an hour later, it was resumed again, but Gormez was nowhere to be found. Diego had to come, however, but Gormez was pardoned again… just because he was the King's champion.
But that's not what hurt Rodrigo. What actually caused him to burst in anger was the thing that followed…
"The battle will be carried on between Gormez and Diego. The law will favor the winner. If Gormez wins, then Rodrigo will be termed a traitor. And if the battle turns out to be in favor of Diego, then Rodrigo will be free of any guilt."
"…"