Despite my open scorn of Santiago's suggestion to have a proper talk with Aro, the following day found me hovering uncertainly outside the door of Aro's wing. Santiago and Afton were watching bemusedly as I dallied outside the door.
Finally, growing impatient, Santiago scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Forget this," he said, and knocked.
I flipped him off during the few seconds it took for Aro to open the door. Aro beamed when he saw me. "Mia cara, do come in. I am so happy to see you."
I resisted the urge to send Santiago one final glare and instead stepped past Aro inside. His quarters were usually in a state that I affectionately referred to as organized chaos, but it seemed in worse disarray than normal. I felt suddenly remorseful for neglecting him.
"How are you?" I asked him, absentmindedly gathering a few of his cloaks and beginning to hang them in the closet near the door.
"I am managing. I don't like this, not being able to do anything. I feel useless, especially with how much responsibility Caius must have thrust upon him so abruptly," he said, eyes following me as I began picking up his books and returning them to their proper places. "You don't have to clean up."
"Makes me feel useful," I said, pausing to frown at him. "It's not like I can do a whole lot at the moment, considering my mortality status. Caius refuses to change me – though I do agree that it's the right decision, all things considered – and I can't do much to help him while I'm still human."
"How is he holding up?" Aro asked.
I sighed as I slid the final book in my arms onto the shelf. "He hasn't fed since this whole thing started. He's promised to feed when Heidi returns, but I'm worried about him. Marcus, too."
"Marcus is still..." he hesitated.
"Comatose? Yes. I have no idea what to do or how to bring him back. I'm scared that-" my voice cracked. "I'm scared that I won't be able to bring him back."
"I'm so sorry," he whispered, looking as if he wanted to reach out to me. "I'm so sorry I caused you this pain, bellissima. You do not deserve this."
I wanted to scream, to cry, to agree with him. To tell him that this was all his fault.
But he knew that already, and I could never hurt him in that way by saying the words aloud.
"I just wish I knew what to do," I said, staring at one of the paintings that hung on his walls. "The guard expects Caius and I to have all the answers. But Caius is just one man and I'm only human."
"You have much more strength than you give yourself credit for."
"Yes," I said, thinking of my family. They denied their very natures in order retain a semblance of their humanity. "We Cullens always do."
"You are the most powerful human I've ever met. And not because of your gift. The guard respect you for a reason. Never doubt yourself, mia cara. We all must make difficult decisions. I trust you will make the right ones, when the time comes."
"You're talking as cryptically as Alice does, sometimes. Do you know something I don't?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "No. I have been kept relatively uninformed. But leadership never comes without the price of difficult decisions."
Something in his speech inspired me. I felt resolve where there hadn't been before. "Thanks, Aro."
Aro saw the change, the steely look in my eye, and smiled. "I have never once doubted you, Rowan."
"I need to go," I said, jerking a thumb towards the door. I had burning questions that needed answering and an idea forming in my head.
"I understand," he said. "Whenever you decide to visit again, I'll be waiting."
A smile curled at my lips. "I know. I love you, Aro. Thank you."
"I love you too, my dearest. Any time," he said.
I strode out of the room, Santiago and Afton falling in step beside me as I walked, purpose in my step for the first time in months. "You look different," Santiago observed.
"I've been inspired," I said.
"Not sure I want to know what that means," he drawled.
"Get your mind out of the gutter," I said, rolling my eyes at him. "The division in the guard has gone on long enough. The Volturi is suffering because of it. That stops today."
"How are you going to do that?" Afton asked doubtfully.
"I have some idea. But I'm going to need the big three to do it," I said.
"Big three?" Santiago raised an eyebrow.
"Renata. Corin. Chelsea." I listed, holding up three fingers.
"Chelsea's in her quarters, we can find her first. I'll lead," Afton said. "Corin is probably with her."
"Renata is in the throne room, as far as I know. If there's no trials, I'll take her place and send her to you," Santiago said.
"As always, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Be perpetually lost, probably," Santiago quipped.
I shot him a look. "Dick."
"What happened to 'I don't know what I'd do without you'?" He asked, placing a hand over his heart. "Truly, queenliness, you wound me."
"Yeah, yeah. You can be my right-hand man and still be a dick."
"Aw, I'm you're right-hand man?" Santiago asked, and I knew the emotion in his voice wasn't completely exaggerated.
"Don't let it go to your head or I'll have to have Felix punch you when he gets back," I said. "Afton, you're my third in command, of course."
"So he's the brawn and I'm the brains, huh?" Afton asked, grinning as he led us down a flight of stairs.
I snickered as Santiago glared at him. "Yeah, something like that."
"As long as that's the case, I suppose I can live with being your third in command," Afton said, nodding.
"Good. How much farther?" I asked.
"Just ahead," Afton assured me, stopping in front of a door that looked the same as the others that dotted this hall. We were in the wing of the castle that held the quarters of the higher guard – Jane and Alec, Demetri, Felix, and Chelsea, just to name a few.
"Afton, I thought you were- oh, Queen Rowan. What an unexpected surprise," Chelsea said, smiling when she saw me. "Do come in. Corin is here as well, we were doing some online shopping."
"Actually, I'm not here for a social visit. I need your help," I said.
"Whatever you need," she promised.
"Excellent. I need you and Corin to come with us. I'll explain on the way," I said.
"Of course," Chelsea said, and the five of us set off back the way we can.
"Santiago, run ahead and send Renata to us," I requested.
"Sure thing, queenliness. Good luck," he said, giving me a mock salute before disappearing.
"What is going on, my queen?" Corin asked, filling the empty spot by my right hand that Santiago had vacated.
"The guard has been divided long enough. Even if Marcus and Aro are still... at odds, the Volturi can't function with the guard against one another. That stops today. But I can't do it myself, that's why I need your help," I said.
"Chelsea I can understand, but why me?" Corin asked. "Why Renata?"
"Renata is there for moral support and to glare at them so that they feel sorry. I need you to make sure everyone stays calm. Chelsea, I hate to manipulate the guard, but I need you to use your gift to begin mending and strengthening relationships. However, I don't want to do that except as a last resort, so I want you in the crowd. I don't need the guard thinking I'm forcing them to make up. If I need you, you'll know."
"So you're gathering the guard?" Renata asked, materializing in my party. "Glad to see you've finally had enough. Wondered how long it would take. What was the inspiration?"
"Aro, if you can believe it," I said, grinning. "Mind spreading the word?"
"Not at all," Renata said, whipping out her phone and contacting the guard. "Where and when?"
"Training room, ten minutes. I want all that are free or can be spared. This shouldn't take long," I said.
"What are you going to say?" Renata asked. "Not to make you nervous or anything, but you're about to address the whole guard."
"I'll make it up as I go. It's worked every other time," I said, shrugging. "Corin will help keep them calm."
At her name, Corin beamed. "Don't worry, I won't overdo it."
"I know you won't," I said as we descended the stairs and arrived at the training room after several more minutes of walking. Much of the guard currently in the castle was already assembled, murmuring together but clearly divided.
"There's two more minutes for any stragglers," Renata informed me as we walked into the room. I felt the eyes of the guard on me, but I squared my shoulders, lifted my chin, and ignored it. Corin was already at work, and I shielded my mind to keep from being affected by the subtle contentment that rolled out from her in waves.
Chelsea and Afton broke away from me to stand with Jane and Alec. Both of the twins had been attempting to catch my eye since the moment I walked in, no doubt annoyed that they weren't in the loop.
"It's time," Renata said, murmuring the words in my ear. I nodded.
"Listen up, everyone!" The room fell silent at once. "These past few months have been tense. Most of you, sans the rare exception, have taken sides of this debate. I don't blame you. It's natural. However, the Volturi is suffering for it and so that ends today. Right now. What is happening between the masters is just that: between them. There are no more sides. We are a united front. And as much as I wish I could simply order it and force the division to be dissolved, I can't force you to get along.
"What I can do is offer a word of advice: if you don't unite, others will take advantage. Word has already spread about the division outside the walls of this castle. There will be unrest and rebellion. We cannot rise above if we are fighting among ourselves along with fighting outside threats. If this continues, the secret will be revealed. Humans will panic, and vampires could be destroyed by weapons even immortals cannot withstand.
"So which will it be? Because we either stand together or we fall divided. There is no other option. But I can't make that choice. That's up to you."
There were uneasy murmurings as I stopped speaking and my words washed over them.
"Nice one," Renata whispered, patting my shoulder.
"Our queen is right," Alec spoke up, stepping forward. "This division of the guard cannot continue. It isn't sustainable. Myself and Jane are both guilty of taking sides. But for the good of the Volturi, we must get along."
And then, to my immense surprise, the rest of the guard agreed. The air still held tension, but it was slowly dissolving. I glanced at Chelsea, who was making her way to me, half-convinced that she was behind this.
She read my face and grinned. "This was all you, Queen Rowan."
"I knew you had it in you," Afton said, clapping me on the shoulder and sending me stumbling forward.
"Better be careful." I was righted by someone I hadn't seen in a while. Maxim stared down at me, critical. "Seems you're the only thing holding us together right now."
"Don't be a downer, Max," Corin scolded, shooting him a beaming smile that he did not return.
"It's Maxim," he stated flatly. He nodded at me and turned on his heel, disappearing without another word.
"Don't worry. He wouldn't talk to you if he at least didn't like you a little," Corin assured me, mistaking my baffled expression.
"It's fine. If he really disliked me, he would have let me fall flat on my face," I told her. Most of the guard had left, returning to their duties.
"That's the spirit," she said brightly.
"I have to get back to the throne room, Master Caius needs me for a trial that started... two minutes ago," Renata said, grimacing. "Well done, Rowan. I don't think anyone but you could have done this."
"Thanks, Renata. Corin, Chelsea, you're free to go as well if you'd like," I told them.
"Don't forget you're always welcome to stop by," Chelsea said, shooting me a smile and disappearing down the hall.
"Bye, Queen Rowan! Don't be a stranger!" Corin said, waving before following Chelsea.
"Just you and me, then, huh?" Afton asked as we left the training room, where a few of the guard had stayed behind to use the room for its intended purpose.
"Seems like it," I agreed.
"That really was great, Rowan. I don't know why you're worried about becoming queen. You were born for it. What you did back there was proof enough," Afton said.
"Hopefully, the goodwill will spread to the rest of the guard that wasn't in attendance. I don't feel like calling another meeting. But that's only one problem solved. If we are to have any hope of normalcy within the coven again – cohesiveness – Aro and Marcus have to get along again."
"Way to be a downer," Afton said.
"You know it's true," I retorted.
We reached my quarters and I opened the door. Afton followed me in without needing invitation and immediately plopped down in a chair and turned on the TV.
I pulled out my phone and called Edward, stretching out across my loveseat as he answered. "Hey, Ro."
"Hey, Ed. How's life?" I asked.
"Great. More important, how are you doing? I know things have been tough."
"More or less the same. I have the guard getting along again, but that's only half the battle," I said.
"Do you know what you're going to do?"
"If I knew I wouldn't be calling you," I quipped.
"Aren't you hilarious," he said drily. "I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Bella is out with Ness, but I'm sure they both send their love."
"Well make sure to let them know I do the same. Anyway, I just wanted to call and say hello. It's been a long day. I miss you all."
"We miss you, too. I know it's a crazy time, but visit when you can."
"Trust me, as soon as this all smooths over, I will."
He chuckled. "I'm going to count on it. Talk to you later, Ro."
"Later, Ed," I said. I hung up and stared at the ceiling.
"Are you moping?" Afton asked, squinting at me.
"No. Well, maybe a little. But you have to admit that my engagement is not going quite as happily as one might hope," I pointed out, looking at my ring.
"Fair point," he murmured, muting the TV. "Look. I know this is awful for you. But it won't be forever."
"But what if it is? What if I'm doomed to an eternity of Caius being perpetually overworked and Marcus a statue?"
"I forgot how limited human perspective is," Afton muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just try to look at the big picture, alright? Eternity is a long time. The masters are soul brothers. It will take time, but their relationship will repair. It won't be like this forever."
"I'll try," I said, still frowning. "I just wish there was something I could do."
"You just united the guard, that isn't enough?" Afton asked in disbelief.
"You know it's not."
"Let it be enough for today," he said softly.
I bit my lip, wanting to disagree with him, but maybe he was right. "Okay," I whispered.
"Good," he said. "You'll get through this. I know you will."
"I hope so."
He spoke with conviction. "You will."
⊱ ────── {.⋅ V ⋅.} ────── ⊰
Here I am, back with the 2nd chapter of Penance! Hope you all are staying safe and healthy in the midst of all the chaos and that this chapter can serve as a bit of an escape from the crazy. A huge thanks for all the support I've been receiving, it means a lot! I'm seeing a lot of theories and ideas flying around about what is going to happen, how Marcus is going to snap out of it, and whether Caius will snap under the pressure. At least the guard is slowly coming back together again - Rowan makes such a good queen. I'm so proud of her.
Thanks to all of you who have reviewed! Let me know in the comments your thoughts on how the kings are handling the split. Rowan is clearly not handling it great, not that you can blame her. Anyways, here are some replies:
animexchick: Rowan needs (and deserves) all the hugs. I feel bad for doing this to her, but... it really was only a matter of time. Hopefully she'll be able to continue to withstand the stress... Thank you for your review!
electrogirl88: Thank you! I really wanted to do something different, and as most Kings/OC fics tend to ignore the whole Aro kills Didyme thing I decided I wanted to tackle it head-on. Hopefully you're enjoying the twist! Thanks for reviewing!
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and make sure to tell me what you thought of it! Stay safe, healthy, and make sure you're washing your hands! Until the next update, guys!