Last time on Blind Hope

"Don't stand around like idiots!" Dorian commanded. "Take that man to the infirmary! And his mate can go with him."

"Your Majesty! That is preposterous!" The Councilman resisted. He got no further as Dorian's hand wrapped around his throat.

"Are you challenging my rule?"

"N-no." Dorian dropped the Councilman to the floor and picked Hope up so she didn't step on him.

"The trial is suspended until further notice." He left, Hope in hand, to follow Drake and Victoria to the infirmary.

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Hope sniffed the room carefully. She didn't like the overwhelming smells of ammonia, bleach, and cherries. The smells were tainted with blood and other random scents she knew to belong to injured werewolves. "Dory," Hope whispered, "is William here, too?" Dorian hesitated. The last he had seen William, his arm was nearly severed from his body.

"Yes," Dorian answered carefully. He knew that his top warrior was actually in a separate part of the hospital - an intensive care unit. Dorian closed his eyes knowing that if William died, there would be... trouble. As if sensing Hope's next questions, Dorian wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "He's in recovery, so let's not bother him."

"Oh, okay." The doctor came out of the room, drying his hands on a towel.

"Ah, Majesty. It's been such a long time." He laughed before suddenly becoming serious, his expression dead-pan. "Thank you." Hope snickered, looking away. "Anyway," the doctor's face contorted into a large smile, "they'll both live!" He clenched his fists, raising them above his head with a slight shake of celebration. Again his expression dead-panned into his 'doctor face,' as the nurses called it. "Lunar Drakey 's'just malnourished. I had to give Alpha Victoria a sedative because she nearly beheaded my top nurse for touching the Lunar."

Dorian sighed. This man was single handedly responsible for keeping Dorian alive. He had performed a highly invasive surgery on a battlefield in the middle of a battle, allowing Dorian to finish the fight - though covered with the bloody scars that still exist. The doctor had immediately been promoted to Head Doctor of the infirmary; however, that was before they found out he was a human veterinarian. Despite this, he was the best surgeon Dorian had ever encountered. "Jeffery," Dorian said, only slightly annoyed with his random behavior, "Drake was bleeding from a large wound."

"Oh, that." He chuckled. "I fixed it." He grinned and spread his arms wide. "I'm amazing. Bask in glory." Hope giggled, her hand flying to her mouth to stop the noise. "And this must be the amazing lady who gave me the second most challenging case in my werewolf history." He took Hope's hand and kissed the top of it. Dorian eyes flashed, and Jeffery winked at him.

"You're human," Hope said, taking her hand back awkwardly and searching for Dorian's. Jeffery pretended he wasn't insulted by her rejection of his kiss. "How do you put up with injured werewolves?" Jeffery laughed a booming laugh, nearly falling to his knees. He panted, trying to get his breath back.

"Sedative is a doctor's best friend." He stepped in-between Hope and Dorian, taking their arms. It was as if he knew that he was indispensable and could do strange things without question - such as walk between the King and Queen. It was when the doctor began singing that Dorian remembered why he tried to stay healthy. "We're off to see the Drakey, the wonderful Drakey of Heart!"

"Shut up, Jeffery." Dorian growled, barely holding himself from snapping the man's head off. Jeffery just laughed and lead them to Drake and Victoria's room.

"And here we are! All safe and sound!" Victoria was sitting straight up in her bed, her hand stretching across to hold Drake's. She growled at Jeffery. "Oh, dear. Not enough sedative."

"Doctor-" She began, but was cut off, but Drake's groan.

"Ah, ha! Saved by the mate!"

Hope leaned over to Dorian, whispering, "He says strange things."

"They're human things." She nodded sagely, understanding everything and yet nothing at all. Jeffery began checking out Drake, while Victoria shook with rage. Hope followed her smell, and stood by her side. Hope reached her hand out slowly, and Victoria took it, wrapping her fingers around Hope's.

"Mother," Hope began, but Victoria cut her off.

"I don't care what that Councilman says or what the jury declares. Sweetie, just know Bruce and I do love you as our daughter and don't want you dead." Victoria let her hand go, and turned away from her to face Drake.

"Then why? Why haven't you said anything?" Victoria didn't answer. A frustrated growl left Hope, and Victoria turned towards her slowly.

"Don't take that tone with me, young lady."

"You can't be serious!" Hope trembled in indignation, and Jeffery laughed awkwardly at the tension between mother and daughter.

"Oh, wow. That's messed up crap." Dorian slapped the back of his head. "Ouch! Okay, I get it. Heal..." He focused on Drake once more. "Alright, well, he's fine. Werewolf healing and all that. Needs to eat and sleep."

"Can he continue to the trial?" Dorian leaned down to study Drake's wound, and Jeffery shook his head.

"Heartless, much?" Dorian slapped the back of his head. "Ow! What's wrong with you!?"

"Don't kiss my mate."

"What?"

"I'll do it." Drake sat up, and swung his legs off the bed. "Let's finish this trial." He stood up determinedly, and Dorian nodded. If the man was insisting, he wasn't about to stop him. Victoria, still arguing with Hope, turned to Drake startled.

"You'll do it?" He nodded, not looking at her.

"I know why you did what you did, and I have some people bringing evidence. I can't say I agree with your actions..." Dorian interrupted them.

"No talking until after the trial. If you have evidence, then present it at the trial." Hope slowly made her way back to Dorian, and the two of them lead the way back to the trial. Jeffery followed them until Dorian questioned it. "We're here. What are you doing?"

"I want to see what goes down! If only I had popcorn..."

As if sensing Dorian's anger was reaching a point of no control, she wrapped her arm around his. Dorian calmed down instantly and gave up trying to understand the doctor. The small party made their way into the courtroom, and everyone watched wearily. "Don't worry, guys!" Jeffery called out. "I'm a great doctor!"

"Jeffery! Shut up and sit down!" Dorian snapped. Hope turned her head away from the two men in a failed attempt to hide her laugher. "Something funny, sweetheart?" Dorian whispered roughly in her ear.

"N-no." The guards immediately restrained Victoria to her chair beside Bruce, and Drake was lead to the stand. The High Elder swore Drake in, and the Councilman stepped up, looking vaguely annoyed.

"Lunar Drake," his voice stopped all conversation across the courtroom, except for Jeffery who was quietly narrating the whole event to himself. He failed to remember the exceptional hearing of werewolves, and those around Jeffery could hear him. While Dorian couldn't make out what he was saying, there was a light murmur in his ear that he tried to itch away. Hope, however, could make out everything as if he was sitting right next to her.

"The angry man steps up to the plate," Jeffery whispered. Hope could barely contain her expression.

"You were supposed to be here sooner. What delayed you?" The Councilman professionally ignored Jeffery's murmurings.

"He asks an obvious question. What delayed him, he asks!? Delay-ment delayed him." Hope trembled as she struggled to keep the laughter to herself. Dorian watched her curiously, nothing making sense. Even some wolves in the audience were tittering.

"I knew that my mate wouldn't order or plan something so ridiculous. I've been hunting for evidence since she was arrested." Drake closed his eyes. "I have the story, but others are coming with evidence. I... don't know when."

"The sadden wolf was distraught that his mate would do that thing, and should have listened to his doctor about rest." Hope buried her face in Dorian's chest to smoother her laughter.

What are you doing? Dorian mind-linked her, amused by her reactions but unsure what was causing them.

Can't you hear Jeffery? He's narrating everything! I can't focus! She continued to giggle into Dorian as Jeffery continued to talk.

Shocking everyone in attendance, Dorian jumped to his feet and placed his hands over Hope's ears. "JEFFERY! IF YOU KEEPING TALKING THROUGH THE COURT PROCEEDINGS I'M GOING TO THROW YOU IN THE DUNGEOUS UNTIL EVEN YOUR BONES ROT!" While Jeffery figured it was a bluff, he knew enough about Dorian to know not to push the threat.

"Yep, sorry. Will be quiet." Dorian cleared his throat and sunk into his chair wearily.

"Continue, Councilman." Hope pulled away from Dorian, still giggling quietly.

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