Finale: Part I

Serena bit her lip and returned to her room. She fell ill that night. Triss came and tried to help her with herbs and other healing potions. But nothing helped. Serena's conditioned worsened. Tissaia visited her a couple mornings later.

"Serena?"

She turned her head to face Tissaia.

"Rectoress," she said weakly.

"You are powerful, cupcake. How can a small illness bring you to this point?"

"I'm sorry, Rectoress."

Tissaia sighed, "Get better soon, Serena. I fear Nilfgaard won't let us off so easily."

"Yes, Rectoress."

Then, Tissaia left. Serena knew the truth though. She was sick to due her mental turmoil. Her indecisiveness had brought her nearly to the brink of death.

"I must choose, once and for all."

~~~

A few days later, Serena began to regain her strength. She left Aretuza and returned to the City of Golden Towers a week later. She hid out in a hostel and concocted her plan.

Serena chose the day of the ball that was meant to announce the survival of Emperor Emhyr. She dressed herself elegantly in a sleeveless, amber yellow dress. She joined the throng of guests and walked into the palace. Slipping away, she went to go and find Fringilla.

Step one, she thought. Take Fringilla Vigo out of the equation.

Serena saw her at Emperor Emhyr's side. Fear crept up her spine, but she pushed it back down, her resolve taking over. Serena created a small dagger, one with the emblem of a general of the Cintran army. Using her magic, she sent it straight for Fringilla's chest. She watched as the dagger hit its target.

"Fringilla!" Emperor Emhyr cried.

People surrounded them. Serena slipped closer and changed her clothes to that of a servant. Servants' clothes lend anonymity to people, and Serena was taking advantage of that.

Emperor Emhyr ordered for everyone to leave. He held Fringilla in his arms. Serena floated to the side, some feet away. She watched, intrigued, as he carefully took the dagger out and examined it. His eyes narrowed when he saw the Cintran symbol. Then, he threw the dagger to the side and pressed down on Fringilla's wound.

Using magic, she changed the sound of her voice. Serena stepped forward.

"Cloth for her wound, Your Majesty."

Emperor Emhyr didn't say anything as he snatched the piece of cloth from her outstretched hands. She stood by and watched as he pressed it against Fringilla's chest. The blood quickly soaked the material.

"Get the Royal Physician!" he roared at her.

Serena felt numb, devoid of any feeling.

She said in a monotone, "What's the point, Your Majesty? She's already too far gone. No potions or magic or physician can save her now."

Emperor Emhyr whipped his head around to look at her. She had glamoured herself to looked entirely different. Neither the original or final Serena Aep Nyr.

"How dare you disobey an order?! Guards, take this servant and have her beaten!"

Guards clamored forward. Serena sighed sadly. As the guards advanced, she snapped her fingers, and their necks cracked. Emperor Emhyr looked at her in horror.

"You're a mage," he breathed.

"Yes, I am. And Fringilla turned her back on her uncle and the rest of the Brotherhood a long time ago. Therefore, we will show her no mercy."

"You!"

Serena stepped around face his front. Her glamour flickered until it disappeared entirely. Emperor Emhyr's eyes widened when he saw her.

"Serena?" he asked quietly.

"Fringilla would never let me off. And now, since I've killed the Royal Sorceress, I've committed treason. Indeed, Fringilla will not be the only one to die today. Two will die today, and I'm not the other one."

Serena knelt down and leaned forward. She reached out and sunk her hand into Emperor Emhyr's chest. Pulling out his heart, she looked at it.

"Look how black it is. Black with all of your sins," she paused. "I wonder what my own heart looks like now."

Her eyes flicked up to meet his.

Serena murmured quietly, "You have a daughter."

He stared at her. "You know?"

She nodded. "Cirilla, isn't it? That's the real reason as to why you want her so badly."

Then, she smirked.

"I am Empress of Nilfgaard and Cintra. I will bring this country back under the Brotherhood. Back where it belongs. And no one, especially you, can stop me."

Then, she crushed his heart in her hand. He gasped and clutched at his chest.

"Serena, why?" he gasped out.

She blinked, unfeeling.

"I was sick for days. I couldn't make up my mind. I thought I had to choose a side. Nilfgaard or the sorcerers. But now I know, I don't have to choose between the two. I can unite the parts of me; but, I had to kill you and Fringilla to do so. I will rule, but don't worry, I have plans for the prosperity of Nilfgaard. I won't let my home fall to ruin."

She watched as her husband fell back, dead, with Fringilla's lifeless body in his lap. Serena looked at them, disgusted. Fire appeared in her hands. She was just about to burn their bodies when guards and servants came rushing in. Serena put the fire out and turned to the others, gripping her arm and feigning injury.

"Fringilla has killed His Majesty! I could not stop her. She put a spell on him that if she died, so did he. Long live the Emperor."

"Long live the Emperor," the other murmured, saddened.

Serena held her head high. "Emperor Emhyr was my newlywed husband. His troops can attest that I am the rightful Empress of Nilfgaard and Cintra."

The others sifted on their feet, uncertain.

"Fringilla Vigo is a traitor. Not only to the sorcerers, but also to Nilfgaard. She killed my husband and wounded myself."

She used her magic to create the illusion of a bleeding wound in her arm as she removed her hand. the others saw the blood and the cut on her flesh.

"I declare her an enemy of the state. She shall be given a traitor's burial. My husband will be burned, according to custom."

Serena stood tall and faced the servants and guards.

"I, Serena var Emreis, Empress of Nilfgaard and Cintra do hereby pledge myself to serve Nilfgaard well and bring the country to prosperity."