01x08 - The Trials

[bunniefuu]

[UP-TEMPO RHYTHMIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

I'm invoking the ancient
right of Royal Trials.

Whoever wins will rule.

My parents chose to become Strigoi.

They're looking for me.

That could put Lissa in
real danger if she's with you.

- [GROWLING]
- Ahh!

There can never be a question
with me or your charge.

But you felt it...

What we could be.

Every second of it. But never again.

I don't want you to be my guardian.

You have no idea what I would
give up for you.

I would die for you!

Yeah, I know you would, because you did.

You d*ed saving me in the accident.

I brought you back.

That's why we have this bond
between our spirits.

I can make you king.

The toll it would take would
be too great.

- You know that.
- I can handle it.

[GROWLS]

Slow down.

Please! Ahh!

Sonya!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

- Did they find her?
- No.

They won't find a Strigoi.

♪ ♪

Sonya will be fine.

Obviously, she's upset about Mikhail,

so she stayed behind.

We can protect her.

No one has to know.

♪ ♪

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

As we reach the end of the first trial,

I remind you all
that these ancient trials

were designed to produce
an heir to the throne

robust in body,
in wisdom, and in spirit.

Your candidates,

Lord Victor Dashkov
and Lady Tatiana Vogel,

have spent a long and grueling day

in a physical endurance test,
braving the four Elements.

Thus, it is the Elements, not I,

that decide who prevails.

The winner of the first trial is...

♪ ♪

Lady Vogel.

[CROWD CHEERING]

♪ ♪

[CROWD CHANTING]

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]

♪ ♪

I'll take another.

You've had enough.

♪ ♪

Oy!

[SHRIEKS]

[GASPS]

Sexy.

A Strigoi.

[PANTING]

All right.

- Upsy daisy.
- No.

- Let's get you home.
- I'm all right.

I'll help you up.

♪ ♪

[BELL TOLLING]

You're up late.

I like the quiet.

It's a shame how few
people I see in here,

off hours or otherwise.

It's a shame how few people pray at all.

I'm sorry our paths
haven't crossed recently.

I'd hoped we might be friends.

There's room for Dhampir
friendship in your ideology?

My ideology is rooted in faith,

as is yours.

I believe that makes us kindred spirits,

if nothing else.

I heard you lost a charge
before you came

to this province.

A friend.

And for three days after his death,

you were on your knees before the altar,

just you anchored in your faith.

[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

I admire that.

♪ ♪

Lately, I've been feeling...

unmoored.

Have you ever doubted... any of it?

All of it?

Every day.

But if faith were easy,

it wouldn't need to be practiced.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Now!

♪ Gotta fight the power,
ain't miss the flex ♪

♪ I'm feeling happy, I'm so impressed ♪

♪ And my best self is my best defense ♪

♪ Can't take a L,
I'm too used to winning ♪

You know, I thought you'd be rubbish

when you asked me to train you,
but your timing's improving.

You're getting those off pretty quick.

- I need to be faster.
- [CHUCKLES]

So do I, if they catch me
helping a Moroi secretly use

their magic to fight.

Have you seen Mia around
anywhere last few days?

She's helping Victor with the trials.

Ah, okay.

Back at her dad's side,
palling around with royals.

Nothing to worry about there.

I liked new Mia.

I just hope it wasn't a phase.

Hi.

Can I...

Christian, do you have a minute?

Yeah.

Yeah, of course.

So I'm just... I'm gonna...

So what are you doing out so...

Will you marry me?

[SENTIMENTAL MUSIC]

♪ ♪

There's some really f*cked up
things happening around here.

I've already had
to make too many sacrifices,

so if getting married gives
me a voice, so be it.

So whatever happened to this famous list

of suitable bachelors?

It expanded.

Turns out you have
just enough Dragomir blood

for me to regain my quorum.

But it's just a marriage of convenience.

Nothing more.

Sure.

Sure.

That's why you're asking me

and not one of the approved guys,

for the convenience?

I'm so glad you find this funny.

[CHUCKLES] Kind of do.

Stop it.

So are you in or not?

There's...

something you should know first.

[SOFT R&B MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[SIGHS]

What you got there?

Incentive.

Cool mystery sh*t to dangle,

so you tell me what happened in Lisbon.

Lissa and I had a fight.

It's not a big deal.

[SIGHS]

Come on, Rose.

Everyone is asleep. You can tell me.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

All right.

This is everything
Meredith and I have gathered.

One, the Strigoi went from being loners

to organizing, coordinating.

Two, Christian's parents
breached the wards

at St. Jude's.

I heard the guardians believe
there was an inside man.

Three, someone has been
leaving Christian gifts

from his parents.

Okay, but why?

Some f*cked up show
of love for their son?

victims.

That's not a f*cked up show of love.

That's a slaughter.

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Those are the two Dragomir victims.

I met them once on holiday
with Lissa's family,

before everything turned to utter sh*t.

♪ ♪

Hang on a sec.

Okay, so we think
Strigoi don't have motives

because they're too feral, right?

Yeah.

But when we were in Portugal,
I swear to the Saints

that the same Strigoi was following us,

and Lissa was with me both times.

She was in Meredith's convoy
when it got att*cked.

Maybe they're not coming
after Christian at all.

Maybe they're coming after her.

Okay, but what about St. Jude's?

That's how she lost
her sh*t at being queen

and took out the rest of her bloodline.

Okay, but what do Strigoi
care about who's queen or not?

They don't,

or at least, they didn't used to.

So you think that someone
inside the royal court

is conspiring with Strigoi
to take Lissa out?

♪ ♪

I think we should accept
that anything is possible.

[SCOFFS]

♪ ♪

After my parents started reaching out,

Rose and I thought
that it wouldn't be safe

for you to be with me.

I can't believe
I didn't know any of this.

Why wouldn't you tell me?

Why wouldn't Rose tell me?

I asked her to let it be my secret.

But I don't want to keep
anything from you anymore.

I get that.

It's just...

I don't think Rose
has ever kept an actual secret

from me in her life.

Well, I guess she was protecting you.

Exactly.

Like always.

I'm the royal princess
that needs protecting,

so Rose gives and gives,
and I take and take,

which is why I'm trying to actually do

something about it.

So again, are you in or not?

[SENTIMENTAL MUSIC]

I'm in.

I'm so in.

♪ ♪

Come, we need to find
Christian, so that we can...

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Come on. They're already waiting for us.

- I know. I know.
- I know. That's what I said.

[CHEERING]

[FANFARE PLAYING]

♪ ♪

Round two, Trial by Proxy.

Our candidates will each select

a worthy representative in battle.

It's fight night, people.

Get ready.

[CHEERING]

[WATER FLOWING GENTLY]

Hey, I've been looking for you.

Are you okay?

Rose used to always say,
the one good thing

about being a Dhampir is you don't have

to get married like Moroi do.

She'd make fun of my ridiculous
-year-old fantasies

of unicorns and , gold balloons.

- Wow.
- Yeah.

And though the groom
was always a mystery...

[SOFT MUSIC]

Rose was there...

♪ ♪

Wearing a dress she'd probably hate,

but pretending she liked it for me.

♪ ♪

Even now, with my parents gone...

I always knew
my best friend would be there.

♪ ♪

This isn't a real marriage, but still...

♪ ♪

Nowhere in all my fantasies
did I ever feel this...

[SIGHS] Lonely.

♪ ♪

I know.

But you don't have to be.

Because I will always be here for you.

However this came about
and whatever else

this marriage will be,

it will be real to me.

Okay?

- Okay.
- Okay.

♪ ♪

So what does this say about
how we're supposed to do this?

So we have to perform three rites,

a blood-marking ceremony
under the eyes of the Monks...

- Gross, but okay.
- An exchanging of gifts...

Easy enough.

And...

a ceremonial announcement
of our betrothal.

We have to announce ourselves
to the entire court...

in public.

sh*t.

All those people judging us.

Can you handle it?

For you, anything.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[MONKS CHANTING IN OLD MOROI]

♪ ♪

No, it can't be about Lissa.

How would my parents even know about us?

No one else does.

What about Jesse Zeklos?

He can come and go through
the walls as he pleases.

He easily could have
smuggled those gifts in.

Convoy in Lisbon.

Didn't you say
he made you all leave early?

He could have been luring her there.

His dad could have put him up to it.

Whoever's behind this is trying

to prevent Lissa's bloodline
from having a vote

on the Council.

Okay, so we think one
of the Elementalist bloodlines

is responsible.

Yes.

Not to mention Dane Zeklos
was angling for the crown

before the queen even
named Andre as heir.

♪ ♪

What if...

What if the car accident
that k*lled Lissa's family...

wasn't an accident at all?

♪ ♪

[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

I know you don't want to talk to me,

but I'm not talking to anyone else,

because you are still
the person that I trust.

There's more going on
around here than you think,

including possible treason.

Come on, I know you think we shouldn't

be talking right now, but...

It's not what I think.

It's what has to be.

I've put you at risk.

I've all but put Lissa at risk.

I recall.

I was there, making my own choices.

Were you?

The only reason
you think you have a choice

is because you were raised
by a powerful Moroi family

who pretended that you
being Dhampir didn't matter.

Maybe if I'd had that,

I'd believe
that I could do anything too,

but I don't.

All I have is this life

and the faith
that's helped me endure it.

I can't lose that, Rose.

It's not that I don't want to help you.

It's that I can't.

This faith that you're holding on to

with a death grip
is supporting an unfair system

that is never going to change.

Maybe you should be the one who does.

I'm sorry.

Am I interrupting something?

I came to watch you train.

I want to see what
I'm putting all my faith in.

Faith in what?

What for?

Guardian Belikov has agreed
to be my champion

in the second trial,

the Trial by Proxy.

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Do carry on.

♪ ♪

- Did they find her?
- No.

Hey, Dad.

Oh, you just missed Sonya.

She called from her hotel.

Can you ring her back?

She was off to the spa.

Victor, who's your champion?

Really, Rose?

For the second trial, who?

James has never lost
in hand-to-hand combat.

Is that true?

I have a record of and .

[GRUNTS]

He won't b*at Dimitri, but I can.

I know how he thinks, how he moves.

I understand him better than anyone.

I will win this, so pick me.

[SOFT VOCALIZATION] [DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Lady Eugenie Lee and her husband,

Lord Vincent Lee.

Lord Peter Tarus

and his wife, Lady Chelsea Tarus.

Lady Marie Carter
and her gentleman friend.

[APPLAUSE]

Lady Batista and her wife,

Lady Andrea Batisa.

Lord Karim Dawoud

and his wife, Lady Ayesha Dawoud.

- [UPBEAT DANCE MUSIC]
- ♪ Amen ♪

♪ Amen ♪

[CLOWN HORN HONKS] [CYMBAL CLANGS]

♪ Watch them battle for the title ♪

♪ May the best warrior win
over their rivals ♪

♪ Amen ♪

There you have it, a crowd of suspects.

Dane Zeklos, Marie Carter, Peter Tarus.

I wish I could remember the accident.

Maybe I saw something.

Well, you know who you could ask.

No.

♪ ♪

When are you gonna tell me what she did

that hurt you so much?

♪ ♪

[CROWD LAUGHS]

I have a fight to prepare for.

♪ ♪

[BANGING ON STAIRS]

I'm giving you
one opportunity to come clean.

[SCOFFS]

I'm tired, Ozera.

Whatever this is, no.

I know about
your f*cked up Strigoi fetish.

I know you're
in contact with my parents,

and I know you're smuggling packages

through the wards for them.

What the f*ck
are you even talking about?

Actually, no, I don't want to know.

Move.

What did you do to Lissa's family?

[TENSE MUSIC]

I didn't do sh*t.

You think I'd stick
my neck out for anyone?

Me?

If anyone is working with your parents,

maybe look at your own band
of freaky little outcasts.

♪ ♪

Because it wasn't f*cking me.

♪ ♪

♪ Angels and saints beware ♪

[LAUGHS]

♪ ♪

Hey. [LAUGHTER]

[CROWD CHATTERING, LAUGHING]

♪ ♪

I love this next part.

[CROWD EXCLAIMS]

♪ Don't you run and hide ♪

♪ Don't you dare fight ♪

♪ Lit by moonlight ♪

[CROWD CHEERS]

Mer, hey.

I feel like I haven't
seen you in forever.

I haven't been hard to find.

No, I know. I'm sorry. I...

That's okay.
You don't have to apologize.

I get it.

If your dad wins,

you get everything you always wanted.

Lord Karim Dawoud.

Lady Ayeesha Dawoud.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Lord Rufus Ivashkov and his daughter...

Hey, sorry.

Oh, I thought you'd changed your mind.

Here's my gift to you.

Did you bring yours?

'Cause once we cross this line
and make it public...

I think my parents may
have done something that...

What, Christian?
Done something that what?

May make you hate me.

Lady Vasilissa Dragomir
and her betrothed,

Lord Christian Ozera.

♪ ♪

It's too late to turn back now.

♪ ♪

[DANCE MUSIC] [CHEERING]

♪ ♪

Welcome to the Trial by Proxy.

Our candidates have each
selected two warriors

to do battle on their behalf.

By grace of the Elements,

let us hope they have chosen wisely.

Lady Vogel has selected
Guardian Dimitri Belikov.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

And Lord Dashkov has selected
Novice Rose Hathaway.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[GONG RINGS]

♪ ♪

What are you doing here?

I'm here to b*at some sense into you.

[GRUNTS]

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[GRUNTING]

Tatiana Vogel is everything
I hate about this place.

- I do what I'm told.
- Right, your f*cking duty.

[GRUNTS]

[CHEERING]

♪ ♪

[GRUNTING, SHOUTING]

♪ ♪

- [GRUNTS]
- Why are you doing this?

Apparently, it's
the only way you'll listen.

Rose...

You want me to stop?

Win.

[CROWD CHEERING]

♪ ♪

You're taking it easy on me.

Or maybe you're just that good.

Bullshit!

What kind of a champion
refuses to fight?

[GRUNTS] I don't want to hurt you.

It's too late.

[CHEERING]

♪ ♪

Your honor as a champion is
on the line here, comrade.

Come on.

Our duty won't let us be together?

Then do your f*cking duty.

- [GRUNTS]
- [SHOUTS]

Yes!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[SOMBER DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[PANTING]

♪ ♪

[INHALES DEEPLY]

♪ ♪

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

Yes.

That's what I thought.

[PANTING]

[BELL DINGS]

The winner is Victor Dashkov.

Thank you, champions.

- Let's go!
- Whoo!

Come on!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

♪ ♪

Fight back.

Fight back!

[CROWD EXCLAIMS]

Fight!

♪ ♪

Fight!

[GROANING]

♪ ♪

Our third trial
will be Trial by Reverie.

Just up this way. You okay?

I'm fine.

Because that fight was kind of fraught.

It's been a fraught kind of week.

Who's this source we're talking to?

Someone who might know
something about the night

of the accident.

You want to take a trip?

No, thank you.

What a sh*t show.

Everyone's here waving their flags,

buying their dr*gs,

no idea that someone
inside of these wards

is in league with the Strigoi.

Do you ever want to get
the f*ck out of here?

All the time, but right now...

we both know what needs to happen.

[TENSE MUSIC]

- No, no.
- Yeah.

You can't just spring this on me.

Yeah, I can.

And I am.

You're a f*cking mess, Rose.

And what's going on right now is too big

for you to be off your game.

Just talk to your best friend.

Work your sh*t out, okay?

Thank you.

[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Hey.

Hi.

I guess, congratulations
on your engagement.

Yeah.

It's complicated.

Christian told me about your theory.

I was hoping you and I
could find some answers

in our memories of that night.

But I don't remember
anything from the crash.

I know, but I do, and I can show you.

How are we supposed to do that?

[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

What you're asking for is a memory walk.

I've seen those get quite messy.

Plus, they're not cheap.

We can handle it.

Well then, get comfortable.

♪ ♪

This is the Trial by Reverie.

Our candidates will be
asked a single question

while a flake of St. Vladimir's
dehydrated blood

infused with Elemental magic
is placed on their tongue.

Then they will be led
to a place of reflection,

where they will experience
their reveries.

The first candidate to emerge
with the correct answer

will be declared the winner.

Your question...
What must a good ruler possess

in order to rule their subjects?

Talking aloud is critical
to a shared memory walk.

You have to tell each
other what you see.

[SOFT MUSIC]

♪ ♪

I'm in the car.

[GLASSES CLINK]

I can see your family.

[LAUGHTER]

And the trees outside.

I didn't think we were going so fast.

I see you.

I see you too.

[GASPING]

[CRASHING]

[SCREAMS]

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Oh, what is this?

My memory.

♪ ♪

[COUGHING]

[GRUNTS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

♪ ♪

[SOBBING] No.

[DRAMATIC SOMBER MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[SOBBING]

[HYPERVENTILATING]

♪ ♪

[ENERGY WHOOSHES]

♪ ♪

[GASPING]

♪ ♪

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[BOTH GASP]

That'll be mirs, please.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[LIGHT CHATTER]

♪ ♪

Daddy, Daddy, Mia was mean to me.

I was not mean to Sonya.

She's just being a baby.

Or maybe what you said
hurt Sonya's feelings.

Because she's a baby.

Because she isn't you.

Sonya isn't like anyone else, Mia.

So we have to be gentle
with her, protect her.

You don't really want
to hurt her, do you?

No.

Oh, that's my girl.

Remember, how you treat family says

everything about who you are.

Sorry, Sonya.

[SOFT MUSIC]

Come here.

♪ ♪

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

Victor, have you
the answer to my question,

what must a good ruler possess
to rule their subjects?

I've learned something very important,

that a Moroi of integrity
must put his family first,

above all.

Love is the gift of the Saints.

It is pure. It is unwavering.

It is what will keep
this Dominion whole.

But a ruler is not just any Moroi,

and love is not enough
to protect our citizens.

Leadership requires sacrifice
for the greater good.

The answer to your question,
Your Majesty,

is that a good ruler must
possess nothing at all.

They must be willing
to give everything they have

in the name of the Dominion.

[CHEERING]

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

The crown is yours, Victor.

May your rule be prosperous.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC]

♪ ♪

I came to apologize.

I should not have begun that fight

knowing there was no way I could do

what I had to do to win.

I'm going to ask to be
reassigned to another province.

My value here has been...

compromised.

♪ ♪

You're in love
with that girl, aren't you?

♪ ♪

But you can't be with her
without sacrificing the duty

you pledged to the Saints,

so you've chosen
not to be with her at all.

♪ ♪

Well, according to the Elements then,

you'd make a terrific king.

I'm gonna let you
into a little secret, Dimitri.

♪ ♪

In the Reverie, I was hoping
to see someone I cherish,

who I lost.

♪ ♪

But I didn't.

♪ ♪

It's hard wanting something
you can't have, isn't it?

♪ Better get to running ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm no good ♪

♪ No good ♪

♪ I'm no good ♪

♪ No, darling ♪

[DISTANT CHATTERING]

I don't even know why I'm so shocked.

- I shouldn't be.
- You should.

We all should.

It should never have happened.

If they were willing
to do what they did,

having a seat on the Council
isn't nearly enough.

I need to fight. We need to fight.

When your family d*ed, I kept thinking

that as long as you and I were together,

that everything would be okay,

that somehow we could
preserve some little part

of that life before the crash,

one where Moroi versus Dhampirs
didn't matter,

and we could keep living that sweet lie,

untouched by all the bullshit around us.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

But we can't.

And I don't want to.

I mean, you were right.

We both need to find our way...

without each other.

Wait. What does that mean, Rose?

What does that mean?

♪ ♪

[SIGHS] Such wonderful news.

I heard you finally got the girl.

Honey, are you okay?

[SOMBER MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Not really, no.

♪ ♪

If you're having a tiff with Lissa,

it will pass.

You'll see.

I'm not sure it can, but...

thank you.

Anybody else would have
thought I was crazy to think

that Lissa and I would ever...

But you,

you supported my relationship...

Right from the start.

It was Diane, not Jesse.

I mean, she's the only one
who knew about you and me.

She gets escorted
outside the wards every day

along with all the Feeders.

I mean, she must be
in contact with my parents.

She must have some kind of...

What is it?

You were right.

Rose and I remembered everything.

Your parents were there.

- No.
- They m*rder*d my family.

♪ ♪

f*ck!

[BREATHES SHAKILY]

f*ck.

I'm so sorry.

I don't even know what to say.

You don't have to say anything.

Your parents are not you.

Their choices don't define you.

Their actions don't mark you.

And I'm sorry for everyone

who's ever made you feel otherwise.

[SENTIMENTAL MUSIC]

♪ ♪

You are a good person, Christian.

One of the best.

♪ ♪

But...

But...

♪ ♪

When I marry you,

I want music, and laughter,

and friends...

And to be able to look forward,
not back.

I want it to feel right
in every way possible.

But right now, all I feel

is pain and rage.

♪ ♪

We never stood a chance, did we?

Um...

here.

In case I'm not around to translate.

[LAUGHS]

♪ ♪

Flooded eyes in a room full of lies ♪

♪ So what are we fighting for? ♪

♪ Cut out my heart
with a switchblade Kn*fe ♪

♪ Now what are we fighting for? ♪

♪ Fighting for ♪

♪ What are we fighting for? ♪

♪ What are we fighting for? ♪

♪ What are we fighting for? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Oh, what are we fighting for? ♪

I have to tell you something.

All of this...

everything that's happened...

it's is too much.

I have to get out of here.

No, Rose.

I have to be loyal
to myself for a change.

I need to make my life count.

Remember when you thought
I'd get expelled,

and you offered to go with me?

I was just wondering
if the offer still stands.

What?

I mean, I know we were at the bar,

and we were drinking
and everything, but...

[EXHALES]

[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Yes, Rose.

Yes.

♪ ♪

We're so proud of you.

A ruler must be willing
to give up everything he has?

I was a little nervous.

He didn't mean literally.

You'll make this Dominion a better place

for our children, my love.

I only wish Sonya was here
to celebrate with us.

We spoke just before the trial.

She said this was all worth it.

[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

It is customary for the runner-up

to present a gift to the winner,

and tonight, the Elements have declared

Lord Victor Dashkov your next king.

♪ ♪

Lady Vogel,

are you ready to present your gift?

Indeed, it is customary that I should

give a concession speech
and congratulate the winner.

And under normal circumstances,
I would be happy to do so,

but these aren't normal circumstances.

We have shamed the Elements
with the choice

of Victor Dashkov during these trials.

They could have never
have chosen a man so sick

in body and in faith

that he would allow this to happen.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[SHRIEKING]

[CROWD EXCLAIMING]

[SHRIEKING]

♪ ♪

[SHRIEKING]

Sonya!

[DOG BARKS]