Epilogue: Coming Home

Nunnally sat tall on Kallen's mare as they rode into the castle courtyard at Pendragon, smiling as she saw Schneizel and Cornelia standing at the front doors. She knew it looked strange being escorted by Black Knights, she herself clothed in a spare Black Knights uniform. She took a deep breath, watching as the rest of the group hung back only Kallen riding forward.

The woman got off the roan mare, leading the horse the last few steps up to the doors of the castle, Nunnally remaining on the horse. It was important that she made a good first impression, if they knew that she was crippled right away then they would have tried to use her from the first moment. Nunnally cleared her throat, keeping her smile as she gazed down at her brother and sister.

It was Cornelia that started forward first, Nunnally's heart beating fast when her half-sister reached for the sword that hung by her side. "Why did they allow the Black Knights into the courtyard?"

"They are here at my request." Nunnally took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. She hadn't traveled weeks to just fail here. This was for Lelouch. She closed her eyes for a moment, picturing her brother's smile before continuing on. "I needed an escort and they offered to return me back home. I was hoping that someone would recognize me here."

Surprisingly it was Cornelia who stared at her for a long moment before walking over to the horse, ignoring Kallen for the time being. "Nunnally?"

She nodded, smiling. "I am Nunnally vi Britannia. And I have returned."

"Just in time too." Schneizel walked up on her other side, offering her a little bow. "Father passed on three days ago and Odysseus has abdicated. Reluctantly, I am the new Emperor of Britannia." The way Schneizel smiled when he said it made Nunnally doubt his statement.

She kept her smile on, continuing on her act. She allowed Schneizel to lift her from her horse, stopping him before he set her on the ground. "I'm sorry to bother you, brother, but my kidnappers injured me to stop me from running."

Nunnally carefully kept her eyes on the ground, feeling Schneizel tense for a moment. Then he was striding into the castle, shouting for a servant to bring her a chair. She tapped his shoulder shyly after that command, turning to look out at the Black Knights. "They have to be treated like guests. They have risked much to bring me back."

Schneizel turned to look at Cornelia who gave an annoyed nod before turning to storm into the castle, Nunnally looking worriedly at her. She wanted to be sure that she had the goodwill of both her siblings that would be remaining here, it was the only way that she could accomplish Lelouch's dream.

She was started out of her thoughts as Schneizel spoke. "You must be exhausted from your travels. It would probably be best if you rested until dinner."

"Wait!" She blushed at her outburst, seeing Cornelia pausing ahead of them. Nunnally looked down at her hands as she spoke. "I want to talk to you two first, about something concerning the future of Britannia."

"Nunnally, I don't think that this-"

"It has to be now, so I know how to act in the future." She looked up at the two of them, smiling as Schneizel changed directions and brought her into the great hall, letting her down onto one of the chairs before taking the one on her right. Cornelia followed suit on the left, Nunnally looking at the both of them as she folded her hands.

"I was treated by my kidnappers as nothing more than a political tool, and I don't ever intend to become that again." She treated them each to an earnest look that had them shifting in their seats. At least she had gotten that out of the way. Nunnally took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment before continuing on. "My escape took a lot of effort and the death of someone close to me, and I want to continue their dream. He dreamed of freeing all of the Areas from Britannia's rule."

"Nunnally." Schneizel sighed. "I don't think you understand the political implications of the move."

"I realize that, but I do realize that you are creating unnecessary enemies by taking them over when a simple treaty would accomplish the same goal." Nunnally swallowed harshly, looking up at Schneizel and Cornelia. "It might not guarantee peace, but it will keep us from stretching resources. And…if I can't get you to agree to what I have just said, then I'll have no choice but to leave and help the Black Knights with their cause, but I wanted to keep the deaths to a minimum."

Schneizel stared at her for a while before shrugging. "It will take me a while to think things over, but your ideas have merit." He smiled at her, Nunnally surprised at how genuine it was. "And it would be horrible to lose someone with such potential to become an ambassador."

"Thank you."

He nodded at her before looking at Cornelia. "Would you take her somewhere to rest for a little while before dinner? I'll take the time to consider her request."

Cornelia stood up and bowed before picking up Nunnally, remaining silent until they were out of the great hall. "Who convinced you?"

"No one. I decided by myself." Nunnally stared at the tapestries that covered the walls. "I decided that it would be the best for everyone, and that the Emperor would be proud to earn the title of peacemaker. History tends to be kinder to those people."

Cornelia just hummed to herself, turning into a smaller room with two chairs and a fire already burning in the fireplace. She set Nunnally down on one of the chairs before sitting down on the small carpet that was a short distance away from the fireplace, tipping her head back to study her. "You look so much like your mother and brother."

Nunnally tensed at that, quickly looking away. She heard Cornelia move, not turning her head to look at her half sister as she spoke. "Lelouch is dead." There was a soft gasp from Cornelia, Nunnally pressing the side of her face into the chair. "He was helping me escape and… So I promised him that I would do this, because it was what he wanted. Even if that makes you my enemy, it has to happen."

Silence fell between them, Nunnally staring at the wall, waiting to turn to the front until one of the servants walked in and announced that dinner was served. Nunnally allowed herself to be carried back, surprised to see that the Black Knights were arranged around one of the tables. She stared at them, expecting to be taken to sit with them, surprised when she was carried to the seat right next to Schneizel. She watched her half brother carefully as he ate, barely picking at her food as the waited for the verdict.

About halfway through the meal, she heard him sigh, looked up at him. Schneizel rubbed his forehead before looking at her, taking a deep breath. "The first order of business would be to get you some way to be mobile; it hurts your image if you have to be carried around everywhere. Then we'll allow you to go out and talk to the Areas. If an agreement can be reached, then I will consider restoring their sovereignty. We'll run a trial with two Areas before moving on to the others."

"But…I was willing to…"

"I find it better to react to things before they will become a problem and you merely pointed out one of the most prominent ones that have plagued the ruling family since we started to conquer them." Schneizel spent some time examining the food on his plate before shaking his head. "And I find that making you an enemy would be a horrible mistake, even without the backing of the Black Knights. So, what is you answer, Ambassador Nunnally?"

She smiled broadly, nodding her head. The cheers from the Black Knights sounded like they were coming from far away, Nunnally laughing as she looked over at Cornelia. It was all going according to plan, just like Lelouch would have wanted it. She could convince the Areas to work with Britannia instead of against it, and then her brother wouldn't have had to have died in vain.

He snuck back into their camp, pulling the mask from the lower half of his face and taking a deep breath, one hand going to rest on his stomach with a wince. He had pushed himself too far with that, but he had needed to see that she had gotten to Pendragon safely. And with Kallen and the others of the Elite Guard around her, she would be fine.

He smiled to himself, the expression freezing when he saw someone sitting by their fire. "And where were you?"

"Uh…"

"You went out to see her didn't you?" Suzaku turned around, glaring at him. "Lelouch…"

"Don't lecture me." Lelouch pulled the cloak off, wincing at the pull on his sore muscles before he tossed the cloth down on the ground, sitting on it and staring into the fire. "I knew what I was doing."

"The wound is barely healed."

"Nothing happened."

"Lelouch, if something happens again, I can't bring you back." He looked up at Suzaku, the knight doing a horrible job of disguising his worry.

He gave Suzaku a soft smile, reaching out to rest a hand on Suzaku's arm. "She's my sister; I have to make sure that she's alright."

"Nunnally can take of herself."

"That doesn't stop me from worrying."

Suzaku shrugged. "I guess not. But don't sneak out again."

Lelouch just grinned at him, shifting closer so he could lean against Suzaku. The knight glared at him before giving him a light shove, that enough to push Lelouch away for a moment before the prince was back to leaning on him. "I can't promise you that."

"Of course not." Suzaku sighed and leaned forward to poke at the fire, Lelouch watching the embers drift up into the air. "Where to next?"

"We'll just follow Nunnally. This trial period of Schneizel's seems interesting enough to be keeping an eye on."

"Will you ever tell her about you?"

Lelouch looked away, feeling Suzaku wrap an arm around his shoulder. For a moment, he was tempted to push the arm off, but he allowed it to remain. He lowered his eyes, whispering in a low voice, "I don't know."

"You should." When Lelouch kept silent, Suzaku pulled him partially into his lap, Lelouch struggling to get out of the knight's grip before giving up. "She forgave you."

Lelouch hummed to show he was still listening, tensing when Suzaku ducked his head to nuzzle his neck. Lelouch gulped, scrambling to move out of Suzaku's lap only to be pulled back, moaning at the lick that was given to the side of his neck.

"Suzaku…"

"We'll talk about this later."

"We'll talk about this now."

Lelouch turned his head to stare at Suzaku, watching the knight stare at him for a moment before shrugging, depositing him on the cloak before straddling him. "We could."

He stared up at Suzaku before pressing his head back against the cloak, smiling fondly. "You horny idiot."

Suzaku kept a hand on Lelouch's shoulder as they were escorted through the camp, nodding at the few Black Knight members that he recognized. The rest of Nunnally's escort was made up of royal guards, all of the men looking nervous at being in the company of the rebel band. Most of the stares went right past on him and to Lelouch, the Black Knights probably having heard of his death from Nunnally. Suzaku's hand tightened on Lelouch's shoulder at that thought.

The guard that had been escorting them through the camp stopped at a tent that had been sent up, peeking his head in before bowing to them. "In here, my lords."

Lelouch nodded, glancing back at Suzaku before slipping into the tent, removing the knight's hand from his shoulder and holding it in his own. Suzaku smiled at that, coming up short as Lelouch came to a quick stop, staring into the small tent.

Nunnally had her back to them, sitting in a chair and bent over something on her lap. She looked up at the sound of them entering, carefully turning the chair around on its wheels with a smile on her face. Nunnally took one look at them and gasped, Suzaku tensing as he looked like she was ready to call the guards.

In that moment, Lelouch slipped away from him, hurrying over to kneel at his sister's side, reaching for her hand. "Nunnally, it's alright."

"No…no…"

"Nunnally, it's me."

"You can't be here." Nunnally looked at Suzaku. "What kind of trick is this?"

"It's no trick." Suzaku didn't get a chance to answer for himself, Lelouch smiling at his sister. "I promised that I wouldn't abandon you, Nunnally, that I would protect you. And I don't break my promises to you."

She trembled in place, staring at him before she let out a sob, Lelouch scrambling up to hug her. Suzaku glanced behind him before inching forward, standing further away from the flaps of the tent. He turned partially away, letting Lelouch and Nunnally have their privacy while still acting as the guard.

"H-how? I saw you die. I held your hand."

"I made a deal with a witch, Nunnally, she did this." Lelouch laughed at that, probably showing Nunnally his left eye. "See, no Geass. I gave that up to come back."

"That isn't possible…"

"It is. I'm still trying to figure out how, but it worked." Suzaku smirked at that, remembering the many late nights that Lelouch had struggled to sort through the memories of magic that he had gotten since he had come back. Most of the things that Lelouch had explained to him hadn't been seen in years but Lelouch couldn't do. The Geass was the only form of magic left in the world, or so said Lelouch. Suzaku figured that he could trust Lelouch on that, considering how many times he found Lelouch brushing over his left eye and looking wistful.

"H-how long do you have?"

"A long while. And I've got Suzaku to keep me from doing something stupid." Suzaku was surprised when Lelouch grabbed his hand and pulled him over, blushing when Lelouch didn't let go of his hand. Nunnally beamed up at him, Lelouch's other hand cradled gently in her own. "And, of course, you. If you decide that you want your big brother on this trip."

"Of course!" Lelouch was pulled into a hug, Suzaku nearly tugged over before Lelouch let go of his hand. He smiled as Leouch returned the hug, pulling away a moment later. "I could use your advice."

"You seem to be doing a good job on your own."

Nunnally blushed at that, looking serious a moment later. "And the Black Knights, I need you to disband them for now." Lelouch gave a hesitant nod, Nunnally laughing. "Not forever. I'm working on getting Schneizel to agree to reinstate them as a section of the military or a kind of standing army for the Areas once they are free."

Suzaku had to laugh at the look of amazement on Lelouch's face, placing his hand on Lelouch's shoulder again. "She's outdone you."

He got a glare for that, Nunnally giggling. Lelouch looked at Nunnally before sighing and standing up. "You've turned my own sister against me."

Suzaku shook his head. "Never, my lord."

That got him another glare before Lelouch sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Spare me from plotting sisters and idiot knights."

"You don't mean that Lelouch."

"No." Nunnally smiled at Suzaku. "He loves us."

"Indeed." Lelouch cleared his throat before bending over to kiss Nunnally. "We'll leave you to your work, Ambassador and to find a spot in the camp."

Nunnally nodded and made a shooing motion, Suzaku falling back into position behind Lelouch as they ducked out of the tent, not surprised when Lelouch stopped to take a deep breath before walking on. He waited patiently, watching as the tension in his shoulders disappeared. Lelouch turned his head slightly to look at him out of the corner of his eye. "You were right, Suzaku."

"It happens."

"Not often."

"Of course not, my lord." He smirked when Lelouch glared at him, trying his best not to break out into laughter. Lelouch eventually just shrugged and turned to focus on weaving his way through the camp, heading back to where they tied their horses.

"Are you staying with me?"

"I am your knight."

"That's not what I was asking."

Suzaku blinked before blushing. "For as long as you will have me."

"That's horribly romantic, Suzaku."

"It's true."

"But horribly romantic and embarrassing. Still, if that's the only answer I'm going to get out of you, I might as well accept it." Suzaku nodded when Lelouch looked back at him, the prince pretending not to notice that Suzaku had stepped up to walk beside him or that Suzaku's hand brushed against his as they walked.

END

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