Change of plans.

Lucinda had resigned that day. Letting connor do however he please.

And in the day of knight choosing. Connor was the only one to volunteer to protect little lady lucinda amidst the mockeries.

And they have been together ever since.

Back in the present. Lucinda felt the tranquil peace that slowly surrounds them.

"I want you to know that, we'll get through this. Together"

Then, Lucinda wondered if he had heard about the fight herself and Silas almost had or maybe already had if not more if a silent kind. she too didn't believe he'll be of much help after what she said to him.

Lucinda gave a hard sigh, the battle field was just a few days away.

A FEW DAYS LATER.

"This is bugous my lady!" Connor was enraged at the position they have been forced into.

The court had refused to allow Lady Lucinda to hire her own defender to defend and fight her case. Instead they had insisted she adhere to use the defenders already provided by the system for women. In other words it was a fixed law man given to the fairer sex automatically for the fact that not all defenders will take up a job to defend the woman. It would have been considered nice if it wasn't a sugar coated thorn on the matter.

The defenders provided are pompous. Do not listen to their defendants or assigned client's case. They always do a quick spin off that doesn't end too well...

Lucinda griited her teeth just recieving the letter sent to her only the day till she would be summoned at the court. She had plead for a lawyer of her own. Her lawyer too was uninterested in taking her case but was very much interested in the money offered to him to rake it semi- seriously, but now at the day before the hearing they blatantly deny her of the request without further piror notice.

"We have no choice at the moment sir Connor." She muttered under her breath to connor standing beside her . His large hand gripping the hilt of his sword strapped to his side wodden till his knuckles turned white.

He promised Theodore he won't be taken away from his mama. This wasn't the plan.

"My lady. You know fully well they won't take our-"

"Connor," she calmly interrupted. "We will give them our document and do what needs to be done."

Connor gave a dejected sigh. Behind her calm facade, Lucinda was terrified. Who won't be? Her careful planning was going to disarray too fast for her to think. But she couldn't show alarm.

Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk of her office. "All the documents are prepared right?"

"Yes my lady". Her drumming slow and she asked under her breath.

"The pre-marriage papers?".

"It was sent to our residence earlier today. All is complete."

"Lets keep Theodore home Connor."

"We won't give in without a fight my lady" Connor declared with resolve.

.

.

.

The sound of horses and the the gentle bumpy rocking of the carriage was what accompanied lady Lucinda on her way to the courthouse.

Her fingers clutched the pouch of flowers and herbs mixture Theodore had surprised her with her for good luck. She wondered if her son had sense her unease before she left, as the smell of the flowers and herbs were putting her at ease.

Theodore was gifted. A few years ago her son had surprised her when he started to bring mixtures of flowers and herbs to her as a smell taste. They had done wonders to calm her nerves. She indulged him by getting him books to study more on these mixtures of fragrances and herbs and he had only gotten better. Now putting the scents in small pouches. Made exclusively for her. It was still a surprise since she hadn't heard or seen him invest in it for a while, until maybe recently that is.

Taking a big wiff, she relaxed her shoulders and close her eyes.

She slowly opened her eyes once more when the carriage rocked to a stop.

The handle of her purse and fan was clutched tightly in her grip.

After all these years in solitude. Her second official coming out in public. There was a tap on the door before it opened.

Connor reached a gloved hand to her. The other resting at the hilt of his sword. Lucinda gracefully took his hand And with one leg down and over the other, she alighted from the carriage and the door closed behind her.

She rook a deep breath to witness the sight before her. People were talking, walking up the stairs when they turned noticing her.

So these were the lot who couldn't wait to see the woman who dared to go against the law in their society.

With a confident smile on her face she took slow measured steps up the stairs and people unconsciously parted.

"That's her!" She heard someone hiss.

"Don't stare too long before you get a curse".

Lucinda had to fight down the scoff as she paused and slowly turned to glance at the two to see the women jump back in fright and clutch unto their companion arms.

"Oh dear. She stared at me.." with a tip of her lips she walked away.

Hope they all had a front role seat. This battle would be glorious.

As the large double door open, Lucinda strode in. The place that was relatively silent started to uphill in hushed whispers.

Lucinda walked down the center aisle of the court room, Connor stably behind her. She felt the burning stare of their gazes on her.

Hypocrites and cowards. They all disgust her.

Along with Connor she was lead to her seat. The defender she didn't consult, was already seated.

Soon the room started to fill in and the court room was occupied.

All this while Lucinda's had not taken a look in their direction she sure they there no doubt feeling full of themself. The vile duo.

She just had to seat through this hearing and hold the urge not to really commit a crime worth them being here today.

The judge walked in a moment later and was seated.

"We are here today to begin the court hearing of the custody of the young child Theodore. If in fact the child will be staying with the woman he has been with since birth," 'his mother' Lucinda almost growled. "Or with his father and his wife."

Funny how he failed to mention the father that has not been present even before the birth of the said child.

After a few ramble of other formality the case began.