The Beginning of the End

Serena stared at Aretuza and Tor Lara. She knew the mages were lying in wait for them. Prepared to attack upon her signal.

Closing her eyes, she made up her mind. She opened her eyes and took in a deep breath. Emperor Emhyr looked at her.

"You ready?"

She nodded. Then, Serena let out a dragon's roar, complete with fire breath. She urged her horse forward, Emperor Emhyr and the Nilfgaardian army right behind her. Her black and gold dress changed into a battle suit equipped with tight-fitting pants and sleeves. Amidst the ensuing battle, she dismounted from her horse. She fought mage after mage on the road towards Aretuza's doors. Close to the doors, Serena ducked down to evade Emperor Emhyr's sights and teleported away. She reappeared on Aretuza's battlements and looked down at the fighting below.

Serena saw Yennefer engaged in battle with a traitorous Vilgefortz. Valentin was clanging metal against metal with the soldiers. Geralt had somehow returned and was now, too, engaged in the messy battle. Other mages were spelling soldiers and various objects. She had no idea who was winning, or where Tissaia was.

"Your choice, cupcake."

Startled, Serena spun around to see the Rectoress give her a barely perceptible, weary smile. For a few moments, neither woman moved. Then, Serena nodded and turned back to the battle.

"Nilfgaard will always have my sympathy," she said. A pause. Tissaia remained silent, waiting. "But Aretuza made me into the woman I am today. Aretuza has my loyalties."

Serena thrusted her hands up towards the darkening skies. As thunder rumbled overhead, she noticed Emperor Emhyr look up. A cold resolve settled over Serena's features. She closed her eyes and let the lightning come to her.

It surged into her body, and she took as much as she could. Then, Serena redirected the chaotic electricity down and sent it snaking through the Nilfgaardian ranks. Emperor Emhyr looked up at her in horror.

"Kill him," Tissaia said quietly. "And end this war, cupcake."

Serena shapeshifted into a gold colored hawk and flew down. She glided over to Emperor Emhyr where she transformed back into her human self.

"Emhyr."

"Serena, what is this?"

"Me deciding my future; and I have chosen."

Stiletto knives appeared in her hands and she flung them at the Emperor. He tried to avoid them, but got caught by one and was pinned by it to a nearby tree. She immediately threw another to pin his other side. He struggled to get free, and she watched, slightly amused.

"I never wanted your affections, sire. But when Rectoress de Vries said I could manipulate them to my advantage, I saw that she was right. And she was," Serena chuckled. "Nilfgaard is my homeland, yes. But it's not where my heart truly lies."

She summoned all of his weapons to her, almost magnetically. Once she was sure there was nothing to harm her, she stepped towards him. Serena sensed a soldier nearing her and snapped her fingers, in turn, snapping the soldier's neck. Emhyr's eyes widened.

She took another step towards him. "You should've listened to Fringilla. But your obsession with me clouded your judgement. Tsk, tsk."

Anger flared in the Emperor's eyes.

"You won't get away with this," he growled.

"Yes, I think I will. I'm still Empress, and any soldier here today will end up dead. You will have no survivors to go against me," Serena purred. "After you die here today, Nilfgaard is mine to bring back under the mages' careful observation."

Her eyelids fluttered as she called upon the waters of the North Sea. The waves rose high and higher. Then, she pulled the waves towards them, washing away Nilfgaardian soldiers and sparing the mages. Serena sent the waters back, taking the soldiers into the North Sea to drown. Emperor Emhyr looked outraged.

"You!" he sputtered.

A passive façade washed over Serena's face. She leaned in towards her husband.

"You thought that Princess Cirilla was the all-powerful surprise. But she's not even here. No, we had her sent off somewhere for her safety." Her lips brushed lightly against his left ear. "It was I that the mages had hidden in wait. I am the lucky one who gets to kill you."

She pulled back to look at his reaction. Shock, then horror, then fury cascaded across his features. Emperor Emhyr looked positively murderous. Serena smirked.

"But how to kill you... see that's the problem. Now, Rectoress de Vries would be satisfied if I just sent a bolt of lightning through your heart. The other mages would probably like me to take your head and cut it from your body; quite bloody though, and difficult for a funeral. A friend from Ban Ard would like me to kill you in the throes of passion," Serena chuckled. "Gross. Anyways, I was thinking something a little more civil. Would hanging, as if you were no more than a common criminal, work? Or maybe, I should just slit your throat with my sword?"

He suddenly broke free from her blades, tearing the sleeves of his uniform. Emperor Emhyr grabbed her arm and his sword before she could move far enough away, and began to drag her off into the forest. She fought him, to no avail.

"Stop fighting me, Serena," he growled.

Knowing she had no choice, she did as he commanded. Serena let him pulled her into the thick dense woods and soon, he stopped and turned around.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would you choose the mages over me?"

"Because I'm not Fringilla. I still believe in the Brotherhood and what they stand for. No matter what side I chose, I would be betraying something or someone. If I had chosen you, I'd be betrayed the society that took me in as one of their own and made me into what you see before you now. And since I've chosen Aretuza and the mages, I've betrayed my Nilfgaardian roots and ancestry... and monarchy."

"Well, you still have one last chance, Serena, to change your mind. If you choose me now, I will overlook your treason."

"And if I don't?" she asked quietly.

"Then one of us won't leave this forest alive."