The Aftermath
Three weeks later...
Serena stood on the battlements of Aretuza once more, looking out at the devastated land around the academy. Tissaia and Valentin stood on either side of her. She cleared her throat.
"I can't believe the war's over," she said quietly.
"You did well, Serena. I'm very proud of you," the Rectoress said.
Serena ran her fingers lightly over the rough stone wall. She couldn't forget what had transpired at the Battle of Aretuza. How Emperor Emhyr had spared her life. She bit her lip, wanting to talk to someone about it, but knowing she never could.
"Is something wrong?" Valentin asked.
"Hmm? No, just thinking about my family. If they would be happy with the choice I made. I turned my back on my heritage, my homeland."
"Nilfgaard was out of control, Serena," Tissaia said. "You stopped the bloodshed of thousands of Northerners."
But did I though? Serena thought. Or did I just delay it?
She looked down at the silver wedding band, still on her right ring finger. Her head raised.
"I must return to Nilfgaard. Seeing as I'm still legally its Empress, I must be there for my people. Please, excuse me."
Then, she teleported away.
Serena reappeared in the palace of Nilfgaard. She walked the halls and came upon the throne room. Knowing who was awaiting her inside, she took a deep breath at the doors. Then, Serena pushed the doors open and walked in. She stopped in front of the dais and knelt down. She lowered her head.
"Your Majesty."
Emhyr looked at her. "Stand."
Serena obeyed, but kept her eyes down at the ground.
"Why are you here, Serena?"
She swallowed and said, "The mages believe you're dead. Therefore, they want me to bring Nilfgaard back under their... watchful eye, since I'm still Empress."
Serena didn't dare look up to see his reaction. She remained silent, waiting.
"Leave us," he commanded.
Two guards began to walk forward to remove her, but Emperor Emhyr stopped them.
"She stays. Everyone else, leave," he said coldly.
His courtiers were shocked, but obeyed. Serena finally looked up to meet his eye.
"Emhyr," she murmured.
"Silence," he sneered.
She froze and quickly bowed her head.
"So the mages think that Nilfgaard will be bent to their will?"
Serena flinched. "Yes."
"I should have destroyed Aretuza," he grumbled.
Her head shot up, and she took a step forward. "Your Majesty!"
He glared at her.
"You chose your side, Serena. I stand by mine."
She bit her lip and didn't respond.
"Why are you even here?"
"I came to ask you something."
"What?"
Serena revealed what Tissaia had told her about Cirilla. She looked up at Emperor Emhyr.
"Is what Tissaia said true? Is Cirilla really your daughter?"
Emhyr sighed and nodded. "Yes. I was once married to Pavetta."
"But Ciri's parents died in a shipwreck! How are you alive?"
"Fringilla teleported me away. I wanted her to save Pavetta, but she said my safety was of the upmost importance. I was a fool and believed her."
"So you let Pavetta die?"
He nodded gravely.
"Don't you see Fringilla's jealousy? She's always wanted you, Emhyr. Pavetta was in the way of her goal. I was in the way, why do you think she tried to turn you against me?"
"She was right about you though."
Serena allowed that. "But Pavetta..."
He held up a hand to stop her. She immediately quit talking.
"I acknowledge that Fringilla was wrong about Pavetta. But she has remain loyal to me and my father for many years."
"What are you getting at, Your Majesty?"
"I have ordered for Fringilla to be released from prison and the dimeritium cuffs removed."
Horror filled Serena's features. She began to quiver in place. The doors opened behind her, and she knew who walked in.
"Your Majesty," Fringilla said.
Serena closed her eyes.
'Tissaia,' she said telepathically.
'Yes?'
'Fringilla has been released from prison. I fear for the side effects of the dimeritium.'
"Serena," Fringilla said coldly. "What are you doing here, traitor?"
Serena flinched.
'What do I do, Rectoress?'
"Can't even respond?"
"I don't answer to you, Fringilla."
'Be careful, cupcake. Fringilla may be unstable.'
'Like she wasn't before?'
"Enough! Both of you."
Both women froze.
"Fringilla will return to being my sorceress. And Serena..."
She waited for her sentence.
'Get out of there, cupcake. Now!'
'What? Why?'
'Forget about Nilfgaard. They're lost. Get back to Aretuza.'
'Yes, Rectoress.'
"You will be stripped of your title as Empress and branded as a traitor to Nilfgaard."
She looked up. "Am I to die?"
Serena noticed Emperor Emhyr look to Fringilla. Then, his eyes narrowed.
"Yes," he gritted out.
And she knew that was her cue to leave. She opened a portal beneath her and fell through it. Before Fringilla could follow her, Serena closed the portal.
She headed straight for Tissaia's office. After knocking on the door, she stepped in.
"I'm a fugitive of Nilfgaard. Fringilla wants my head."
Tissaia turned around and looked at her. Her tone was very clipped when she spoke.
"Why is Emperor Emhyr not dead?"
Serena stilled. Then, she lowered her head in shame.
"He caught me off guard. We battled with swords. But I'm unaccustomed to the weight of a sword and my earlier displays had tired me. I lost, Rectoress."
Tissaia said nothing.
"I was on my knees, sure that he was going to kill me."
Still no response.
"But he didn't. Emperor Emhyr spared my life. In return, I promised to say that I killed him so he could return to Nilfgaard in secret."
The silence was uncomfortable, and Serena fidgeted in place.
"I went back today to talk to him, but Fringilla has him wrapped around her finger. He'll do anything she says."
Tissaia remained reticent.
"What do you want me to say, Rectoress?" Serena cried. "That I was wrong? Yes, I was wrong to lose. That I shouldn't have let Emhyr leave the grounds alive? No, I shouldn't have. That I was wrong to lie? Yes, I was wrong to lie."
"Is that what you wanted to hear?" Serena said. "That I still can't decide which side to be on? That I feel like I'm betraying a part of myself no matter what or who I choose?"
Tears threatened to fall, and she wrapped her arms around her body for comfort.
"I fear you may have damned us all, cupcake."