THREE MONTHS LATER
Laelia set her pen down and reread her letter. After nodding to herself, she folded the paper and poured red wax to close it, stamping it with her ring. It was, in her opinion, a little extra to seal it. But after the last five years she'd had, she figured she deserved a little silliness.
Besides, she still felt a little thrill at getting to use the Fleuret signet for herself.
Pushing her chair away from the desk, Laelia left the sitting room and headed out into the hallway. Sunlight poured in from the tall, floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing just how dusty the Insomnian Citadel still was. A few servants had begun to slowly trickle back into the city in the three months since the Long Night ended. Slowly, they had started putting the Citadel to rights - the parts of it that were safe to live in, at least. The throne room was still under construction, though Noctis had put it low on the list of priorities.
"The city first," he'd said, "and then we can worry about where I'm going to sit."
Soon, they'd begin reconstruction on the city, then the Citadel. It was a slow business, getting the world to start spinning again, but the Hunters had been helping out. There wasn't much for them to do now that the daemons were gone from Eos.
So much had happened since that night in the Citadel. Laelia still couldn't remember all of it. Just a hot pain on her neck, and then darkness, and some bits and pieces of the Beyond. That was fine by her. Humans weren't meant to know too much about the other side. She knew, thanks to Noctis recounting the story, that they had all defeated Bahamut. That was what counted.
Now if only they knew what had happened to her sister and Ardyn. When they'd all woken up in the throne room, they were both gone, with only Ardyn's hat and Elpis' stave on the floor. At first, Laelia had been hurt that, once again, Elpis had left her behind. But as the days wore on, she began hearing a story whispered by people, a name shouted by children: Elpis, Sun Goddess.
She might never know what had happened to Elpis and Ardyn in the Beyond after they'd defeated Bahamut. Laelia was content, for the time being, to give her sister time to sort things out herself. She had faith that one day her sister would be ready to talk things through.
In the courtyard, heavy packs were placed on the backs of chocobos. It was still too dangerous to drive through the city, so everybody got around on foot or on chocobo. Laelia didn't mind. She loved watching Ravus on a chocobo, especially when he gave the birds treats when he thought no one else was looking.
Her gaze scanned the courtyard until she found Ravus standing with Lunafreya and Noctis. The former Oracle smiled when she caught sight of Laelia and hurried forward to give her a tight hug.
"I do wish you'd stay longer," Lunafreya said.
"I know," Laelia said. "We're only in the way here, though. And since you're staying in Insomnia, Tenebrae needs her King back."
Noctis, who had caught sight of the letter in her hands, said, "You know we don't have a functioning postal service yet, right?" His tone was wry and Laelia laughed.
"Yeah, yeah," she said as Ravus came to stand by her. "Don't worry, I have a feeling it can get to where I need it to go."
Noctis rose an eyebrow but nodded. He gave Ravus a level look before holding out his hand. "Thank you," he said.
Ravus considered Noctis' hand for a moment before stepping back and placing a fist over his heart and bowing his head. Laelia shared a surprised look with Lunafreya. While things had eased considerably between Noctis and Ravus, they still weren't friends. They mainly only got along because of Lunafreya, and the fact that their nations were leading the world's recovery.
The snap of a camera caught their attention and Prompto grinned as he waved.
"I've got it for eternity," he said.
"I will burn it," Ravus replied evenly.
"I'll have back-ups!" Prompto said cheerfully, and Laelia giggled.
She had come to love these people. If someone had told her five years ago that she would find herself friends with the King of Lucis and the Oracle and she herself would be in love with the King of Tenebrae, she would have wondered what new drug they'd been taking. Stranger things had happened in their world, though, than one girl stumbling into a fairytale.
They all said their goodbyes once more, but when Laelia was settled in her saddle, Noctis approached. He handed her a letter.
She rose an eyebrow, even as she took it from him. "Am I your functioning postal service, Your Majesty?"
"No," Noctis said with a quiet laugh. "But if you think you can get it to her, then... I'd appreciate it if you did."
Laelia nodded slowly. "Yeah," she said. "I can do that."
Noctis smiled, then stepped back to Lunafreya's side. "Please don't forget to listen to the radio announcement at midday," Lunafreya reminded them.
"We won't," Ravus promised.
Laelia and Ravus urged their chocobos on, with Laelia waving at the Lucian King and the future Queen until they left the courtyard. It took them a while to get to the outskirts of the city - the few people who had made it back recognized Laelia now, and stopped her often to say their goodbyes. She even saw two of her old classmates.
Slowly, Insomnia would recover, as would the world. Ravus worried about Niflheim, given their proximity to it, but no one had heard anything from the Empire in five long years. Laelia secretly thought there was no one left alive in that part of the world.
When they reached their airship, Ravus helped Laelia down from her saddle, a small, secretive smile on his face. He may not have been as theatric in showing his feelings like, say, Ardyn, but that suited Laelia fine. She didn't need grand gestures. She only needed to know that she could depend on him, and so far, he had proven himself admirably.
Someone called for Ravus' attention and after making sure she was fine, he strode off. Laelia appreciated the view before turning to give her chocobo a treat and stretch her legs.
She stopped when she saw the sunflower. It was alone, by the side of the road leading into Insomnia. Its petals were a brilliant yellow. As Laelia considered it, a ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and shone down on the flower.
Okay, Laelia thought. That wasn't subtle.
Making her way over, Laelia pulled the letters out of her bag and paused, uncertain if she was really going to do this. Then, with a shrug, she set the letters down on the ground by the long stem of the flower, where the dirt was warm to the touch from the sun. A single petal fell from the flower and landed by her feet. Laelia picked it up, twirling it in her fingers, before putting it on the end of one of her braids.
"Sun Goddess, huh?" she said to no one. "I think you deserve that."
"Laelia?" Ravus called, and Laelia smiled to herself.
"How do you feel about planting sunflowers at the Manor?" she asked Ravus as she rejoined his side and, together, they boarded the airship bound to fly them home.
The sun bore down on the woman as she pinned the last bit of clothing to the line. Under her bare feet, the desert ground was baked hot, and it felt soothing on her skin. From his part of the yard, Aquila let out a kweh, and she smiled as she threw him a treat before leading him back to the barn, to get him out of the sun. Once that was finished, she took up her empty laundry basket, whistling softly.
Three dogs came running from around the little house, tongues lolling, chests heaving, tails wagging happily. They briefly surrounded the woman, covering her legs in licks, before leading the way back to the house, running through the open door that was painted a cheerful yellow.
She had created this house herself in moments, just as she had brought back the dogs from death. It had been bending the rules a tad, but it had been worth it.
Before she went inside, she turned her face towards the sunlight once more, her eyes closed.
Elpis Maelen had given up the majority of her goddess' powers. There was still enough power left for the sun to feel like a kiss on her skin.
In the three months since the return of the light, there had been blessed silence. No Messengers had come to find them. No Astrals, either. Elpis wasn't certain whether they were keeping their distance because they were scared of her, or because she wasn't worth their attention. She didn't intend on finding out, either way.
She set her basket down by the door, her feet silent on the wooden floors. From the kitchen, she could hear Vincent, Cer, and Berus drinking at their waterbowls. She took up a glass herself before winding her way through to the living area.
On a large sofa near the fireplace, Ardyn laid with an arm over his eyes, his other hand resting on the back of a child. His brown hair tumbled over the armrest, begging for her to run her fingers through it, but Elpis stayed her hand. She wasn't certain if he was up to that kind of touch right now.
She hadn't been wrong when she'd thought their ending wouldn't be entirely perfect. After two thousand years of numb fog, Ardyn's body no longer knew how to process sensations. The first few weeks after they'd left Insomnia had been the hardest: He had clawed at even the softest of clothing, had winced at whispers, got headaches from the moonlight. He'd burnt his hand once because his skin couldn't tell something was hot. He couldn't tell when he was hungry or thirsty or even tired. Elpis kept him to a regular schedule of eating, and together, they managed.
The hardest times had been when he couldn't even bear to touch her. But Elpis was, if nothing else, patient. She had waited five years to feel him once again. She could wait as long as he needed.
After all, they had eternity now.
Elpis sat on a chair and sipped at her water, studying the child that lay sleeping on Ardyn's chest. Her skin was brown, her black, tightly coiled hair done up in twists. A little bit of drool was escaping from the corner of her mouth and forming a dark spot on Ardyn's shirt. Elpis grinned.
When Eos had taken her hand for the last time, Elpis had changed her. And instead of leaving her behind as everyone else had once done, Elpis had gone back for her. It had been a split moment decision, but it was one she was becoming more certain of as the days passed. Ardyn, for his part, had been worried that the Astrals would come after them for her, but Elpis wasn't so sure.
Like her, the Astrals must have known that their mother needed a second chance. They were willing to give her that chance.
She and Ardyn had called the baby Avani, which in Elpis' desert tongue meant "the world". She didn't stay a baby for long; she had grown to toddler size already. In her golden eyes, Elpis sometimes caught a moment of self-awareness, of cleverness. The Goddess was controlling her growth. For now, Elpis was willing to allow it.
One day, she and Ardyn would take Avani back into the populace. She would need to learn how to love humans again somehow, and Elpis could think of no better way than to be around them.
Moments passed in pleasant silence before Ardyn stirred, lifting his arm from his eyes and blinking sleepily. Elpis watched as he took stock of his body, how it felt in that moment, his brain trying to sort the feelings and sensations. Having Avani's weight on him, he'd told Elpis, was comforting. It helped center him. Ardyn rubbed Avani's back once, twice, before he caught sight of Elpis watching him.
A slow smile broke out on his face. "If it isn't my goddess," he said.
"If it isn't my husband," Elpis said, reveling in the sight of his blue eyes. "It's almost midday. I wasn't sure if you wanted to be woken up."
"Mm," Ardyn sighed. "It appears I won't be moving from this spot for some time."
"No, it doesn't. It's okay. I brought the radio in."
Elpis set the radio on the table, turned it on, and adjusted the antennae. Avani shifted at the sound of static, and Ardyn cringed, but otherwise neither one moved. Soon, Elpis found the channel she'd been looking for.
"... And now, King Noctis Lucis Caelum's first address since the end of the Long Night, brought to you by..."
Ardyn stared up at the ceiling as Elpis sat back. Something caught her gaze out of the corner of her eye, and she turned to see two letters sitting on a small table by an open window, the sun shining down on them. She reached for them, recognizing the seals in the wax, and smiled. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, deciding to read them after the address.
Noctis' voice filled their home. "Two thousand years ago, a lie was told."
As Noctis began to reveal the truth to the people of Eos, Elpis thought of the long, winding road she had traveled down to get to this point. To have her husband by her side, mortal and no longer cursed with the Starscourge; to have a home they could live in; to have a life at all. The fact that either one of them was alive was a miracle. And now, they no longer had to worry about fate.
No, it may not have been perfect. But it was as close to perfection as Elpis could imagine.
"The true Founder King of Lucis was Ardyn Lucis Caelum, and his Queen was the first Oracle, Elpis Maialen," Noctis said.
Elpis opened her eyes and saw the trails of tears running down Ardyn's cheeks. She got up, went over to him, and offered him her hand. Ardyn grasped it tightly, kissing the back of it. It sent a thrill through her.
Ardyn met her gaze, love and gratitude and awe in his expression. "What now, my lovely wife?"
"Now," Elpis said as his hand found the back of her neck and pulled her in, "we live happily ever after."
They kissed as Avani slept on, as the world learned their story, as Noctis began the long task of helping to rebuild the world. And it was, for the moment, perfect.
"Well," Bellona said as she flicked the radio off, "that was boring. And typically self-important."
Nikolaos did not respond. He merely sat, fingers forming an arc, as he stared out the window. His hair had finally gone white in the last five years, and his face was gaunt from his refusal to eat as much as he should have. He'd been sharing the food stores with the few remaining people of Niflheim, like some idiot. It was bad enough that they had to rely on what little food Niflheim could grow, as they closed down their borders and could no longer import the food they'd gotten from their territories.
Bellona did not have that problem. She made certain she ate and kept her strength up. Who was more important to the world: Some random peasant, or she, the carrier of royal blood?
"It's likely another lie, anyway," Bellona continued as she poured herself a glass of water. Hell, but she missed wine. "Are we really supposed to believe that the Lucian King is responsible for ending the Long Night? Pah!"
Those damned Lucis Caelums and their Crystal. Bellona had never shared her father's delusion that the Crystal granted any sort of power. It was a rock, and all rocks could be crushed into dust. She had merely rolled her eyes while he waged war to take possession of the Crystal, and look where it had gotten him: Dead.
Killed by Ardyn Izunia.
"I'm going to dissolve the monarchy," Nikolaos finally said.
Bellona stared. "I beg your pardon?"
He stirred briefly. "I said, I'm going to dissolve the monarchy," he repeated. He ran a hand through his hair. "It's time to end this madness, Bell. Look what our family has done to Niflheim. We're barely holding on. King Noctis was right: An Imperator should make his lands prosper, not die a slow death to fuel an endless war."
She slowly set her glass down. It made a cold clinking sound on the marble table. "I see," Bellona said. "And what sort of... system do you propose replace a monarchy?"
Nikolaos shrugged. "Let the people decide," he said. "They would know what they and their nation needs."
Bellona only made a small, neutral sound as she poured another glass of water from the pitcher. She made her way over to her twin, hating the weak slump of his shoulders, the heavy lines on his face. He looked so much like their mother.
"Thank you," Nikolaos said as she handed him the glass. He took a long sip, eying her, before saying, "Have you anything you'd like to say?"
She rose her brow. "I hardly think my opinion matters, since you're the Imperator."
"Come off it, Bell," Nikolaos said. "I want to hear your opinion on this. You've been by my side for the last five years, and despite our disagreements, you've led with a steady head. I value your thoughts."
"Hmm," Bellona said as she turned to look out the window. The sun shone down on the ruins of Gralea. The release of the Diamond Weapon and the battle that had ensued had almost destroyed the city. Luckily, the palace was still standing afterwards, and with the few Generals the army still boasted, they had been able to steer Niflheim through the dark.
It was rage-inducing to see the city her father had bled for reduced to so much rubble.
"I think," Bellona said at length, "that it's a pity you got our mother's heart as well as her looks, Nik."
"What-" Nikolaos coughed, then coughed again, reacing for the glass of water. He took another drink of it before pausing, looking at the liquid, and then staring up at his twin. "Bell-"
"Oh, Nik," Bellona sighed as Nikolaos continued to choke. Poison was such a painful way to go. "If only you'd been more like me. Alas."
Nikolaos reached out for her, hand grabbing hold of her skirt, and she pulled it out of his grasp as he fell to the floor. He writhed, his face turning purple and his eyes bulging, foam falling from the corner of his mouth. She watched as his body began to still, the light leaving his eyes, until nothing remained but an empty shell.
"The Imperator is dead," Bellona said to herself. She reached down and picked up his silver crown, admiring it in the sunlight before placing it on her own head. "Long live the Imperator."
Stepping over her twin's body, Bellona began her plans. She would succeed where her father had failed. She saw now what it took to win a game of gods and mortals, and she would put that knowledge to good use.
And it would all come back to Ardyn Izunia.
A/N: There will be one more "chapter" after this one that will actually be my author's notes and acknowledgements. There's a lot to go over and not enough space at the end of a chapter for it!