The Power of the Queen
by the Black Rose
AN: The final chapter of the main story; please see author's notes for my guide to the rest of the stories in the arc. Also, at the bottom is a preview to the next story in this arc: "Queen of the Night"
Epilogue
It was a promise to you, my son, and an oath I swore to myself…
I assured you, when you were seven-years-old, that I would watch over Euphemia. And I pledged to myself the day I arrived in Camelot that I would do everything I could to ensure your happiness.
And in these days since Euphemia left your world and your life, I've watched your descent into madness and isolation. It has mirrored hers.
But just like I can't reach you, I couldn't reach her.
I had no choice but to call on the same power that started everything. I wished. I wished only for her to heal, Lelouch. I wished that she would regain her heart and her love. I added that I wanted her to regain her love for you. I wasn't sure what that would mean for your existence on Earth, and I knew that my wish was…I wasn't sure I could even activate Geass for such a purpose.
After all, a power that has no heart, has no ability to control the heart.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Euphemia stood in her room, her left hand clutching the ruby velvet curtain; her right hand resting on the glass. The sun shone on yet another beautiful day outside; she never went out to enjoy it. But she would watch others from one window – the one at the end of the row, nearest the wall.
I stopped in the doorway, holding my breath… I think I'd been holding it since he arrived, a few hours before. His face when he found out she was here…
"Imperial Princess, uh, my Queen. I have returned." His strong, clear voice echoed across the chamber. I hated the sound of it as much as I hated the sight of him.
A long moment passed, but she didn't move – her eyes still transfixed on the world outside the glass. But the young man remained where he was, kneeling in his white suit with the rich decorations of his rank - red, purple, and gold. Posture straight and noble. His rich chestnut hair cut and combed almost into place. He looked healthy, strong – all the things he was in his former life.
In sharp contrast, Euphemia looked almost like a ghost - the pale sunlight reflecting off her white skin; her dark grey dress swallowed her form.
"Euphie?" His voice pitched to something like a whisper.
Her hand tightened on the velvet curtains.
"Euphie…" His head bowed. "I just want to see you. It's been so long, and I…" He rose from his kneeling posture; he brought his palms up and stared at them.
"I've fought so many battles. I've killed." He took a step forward. "For you."
I saw her press her forehead against the glass. A tremor shook her shoulders.
"Please," he took two more quick steps to stop at the small set of stairs up to the enclosed balcony where she spent her days.
"Please, Euphie. Don't hate me." He put his hands back down at his sides. "I didn't want—"
She turned around, tears staining her cheeks and glittering in light blue eyes that looked…so weary, but. But not lifeless.
"I'm so sorry." The words shushed from her lips; pain and remorse dripping off every syllable.
My legs gave out and I fell backwards. Only the doorway kept me on my feet.
"It wasn't your fault." Suzaku lifted his head and shook it slowly. "I knew…I've known. You didn't want to do," his shoulders drooped, "what you did."
She moved towards him and stopped at the top of the stairs. I could tell, even from across the room, that they were staring into each other's eyes.
"I never blamed you, Euphie." His voice rumbled as he tipped his head slightly to one side.
"Suzaku…" She half walked, half fell down the few steps that separated them. He raised his arms and caught her up in his embrace.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
I've kept my distance since he arrived. But, I see them…
It was difficult not to notice an immediate difference. He made her eat, induced her to talk - after only a couple of weeks, he even got her to smile - a slight curve of her lips…
But it was her eyes that changed the most. They haven't been dark and shadowed since he arrived. The first few nights, he raced like the rest of us had at various times to her room – to quiet her screams and do what we could to soothe her. And after three or four nights like this, he no longer went to his own room at the other end of the hall.
She no longer woke up screaming.
I want to hate him, to be angry, and yet… Every time I see her, her eyes are just a little brighter, her voice sounds a bit livelier…. She's even returned to calling me "Aunt" Marianne. I can't find it in my heart to begrudge her the young man's company.
-.-.-.-
I glanced outside the window and saw them…They had brought a blanket outside and spread it across the lawn. He lay stretched out on his side, his right arm propping up his head. Euphemia rested beside him, pink hair tossing about on the breeze. Her eyes stared up at the sky.
-.-.-.-
So, I live in the hope that as she remembers her love for Suzaku, she'll also recall the love she held in her heart for you, Lelouch.
-.-.-.-
She turned to look at him, catching a piece of hair with one hand. She tucked it behind her right ear and a smile bloomed on her lips.
(to be continued in the story "Queen of the Night" - Euphie's POV)
AN: This story was always meant to end here. While I developed a fondness for the Lelouch x Euphie pairing, I adored the Suzaku x Euphie pairing, first. This story, while about a number of other things, was also, on some level, about my wrestling with which pairing would ultimately win out in my heart.
As a "consolation" to Lelouch for the story's intended ending, I wrote a side-story set during episode 19 (and continuing), from Lelouch's POV, entitled In the Days I Have Left. As this has a lemon in it, it's been posted to AO3: archiveofourown."org"/works/23484955 (you'll need to remove the " " around "org" and then copy and paste into a browser)
There are a total of four stories: The Power of the Queen, In the Days I Have Left, "Zero Consideration", and "Queen of the Night"). These separate stories intersect and overlap at various points (and are from different POV's) – to tell one story.
After the Queen of the Night is an epilogue entitled "All That I've Done", which starts at the end of the last scene in In the Days I Have Left.
The arc finally comes together in a final scene entitled "Knights and Kings".
I know it's confusing. I will try to make sure each story's place is clearly defined as I post / publish it. I assure you these are all drafted, although my first drafts are often pretty raw dialogue, so they still need work…
For those of you who are Lelouch x Euphie fans, please know this: there IS a reason why I ultimately decided to enter this under the category of Lelouch x Euphie, even though my original intention was to leave the story here. Forgive me if you're disappointed. I think some of the other pieces may make up for it. If you haven't read it, go check out In the Days I Have Left.
I'll leave you with a preview to "Queen of the Night"
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this story, and even more for the replies / reviews. I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe!
Love,
~Rose
Queen of the Night
Prologue
Euphie POV – set after season 1; in the "world of death", which Marianne refers to as the kingdom of Camelot, inside the lands of Caerleon
-.-.-.-
I've known since I was a young girl that life doesn't just happen when the sun is shining. In fact, it needs the grey skies that come with the rain and the darkness that accompanies the night as much as life needs the sunlight.
Day…Night…Each one possesses its own allure. And I loved them both when I was still alive.
-.-.-.-
It's easy to see beauty in the daylight. I remember Aunt Marianne's garden, filled with a variety of color and flowers – white irises, purple sage, pink roses. She would remind me when clouds and drizzle kept me inside that the buds bloomed because there were days of rain as well as sun.
Aunt Marianne also had a moon garden, where blossoms opened only once darkness fell…
As a child, I was afraid of the dark, I didn't like to go out after the sun set. Marianne's moon garden helped change that. She would take my hand, lead me into the yard, and she'd tell me that darkness had its own beauty – because it let us see the stars, and the flowers that wouldn't open in the sunlight.
The night blooming cereus is my favorite. Aunt Marianne said the plant was called: "Queen of the Night".