A Short Unhappy Reign (AA, Vilondra, Teen) 1/1 - 06/27/07

[PML]

Title- A Short Unhappy Reign

Disclaimer- I do not own Roswell, and mean no infringement. It is owned by Melinda Metz, Jason Katims, UPN, WB, etc.

Rating- Teen

Category- Vilondra

Summary- This story is actually linked to my story on the CC boards In Destiny’s Shadow. Basically it is a one shot vision of the end of Vilondra’s brief reign on Antar. I just have been dying to post this scene, and I am not sure it will ever make one of the flashback/ memories I have been given the podster’s. The first part is from one such flashback. Anyway, I hope it is enjoyed.

A/N- There is an execution sequence, so this may not be for everyone.
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Vilondra, Hall of Judgment in the Royal Palace Complex of Antar

She was marched into the massive columned chamber, the Hall of Judgment. She could see past the columns to the vast walls dotted with the Mirrors of the Damned. Even though the trial had not started, she already knew the verdict. She would join those whose crimes were considered so terrible that death itself was considered a mercy. Her essence, the part of her that made her who she was, would be trapped in memory glass.

Most lay people thought it lasted forever, but the oldest so trapped seemed… faded. It was her thought and that of some of her former colleagues at the Archadian that entropy played its part even here. That the souls trapped faded and slowly dispersed, destroyed for all eternity. Denied Heaven, Hell, or even Rebirth; it was society’s ultimate punishment for it killed the soul.

The practice was evil. And so she would wail away eternity slowly being fed to a hungry piece of glass. At least they would not get all of her, each of her sisters carried part of her with them.

There was no way they could catch them now. Nine of the ten long range exploration vessels that Antar had maintained had been destroyed in dock, by her own hand. Her family was on the tenth. A crime worth punishment she guessed. But that is not why she was here. She was the last of the Tarenons, or so they thought. For two tiny embryos carried the seal as well. The others she had had altered to accept it to be passed to them. These fools, neither the ones who were here, nor her ‘family’ who had stood aside and let this travesty come to pass would gain access to the Granolith.

For it too had passed beyond their grasp. Even if the figured out where it was headed, her subjects would be able to hide it. Most likely by the time they did find it, her family, her recreated family would be able to protect it.

Her guards marched her to the end of the line. Only three people stood before her. With half an ear she heard the judges give sentence. Her mind still distracted by her memories, still not fully accepting of her fate.

It had been but three days since she had stood with her husband to be. With her brother, King Zan, and his wife. It was to be a happy occasion, one that would hopefully tie enough factions to the Crown to ensure peace. But they were betrayed, and only she had survived. Perhaps she was spared by her former lover, Khivar, who by all reports still claimed to love her.

No matter, for events turned out differently than expected for all concerned. The seal had claimed her, she who was not in line of succession. She had fought back, had struck down Khivar. He had paused, unwilling it seemed to actually shoot her at the end. For no matter how much he loved her, the rebel factions would not allow a Tarenon to live.

She had rallied those few who were loyal, those few who had not been compromised. Those few who did not see a chance to either claim the throne themselves or were part of the rebel factions.

She had lasted three days.

Not long, but long enough. Her family would escape. Hopefully her sisters, who each carried a small portion of her essence, would have long and prosperous lives. She hoped her brother would be able to enjoy a life not tied to Royal duties. That he could, at least one of them, could find on Earth the girl he had not found here. She wished her sister-in-law well too, for although Vilondra had never really gotten to know her, Ava had deserved a kinder fate.

And Rath, her friend, her fiancé, and the man that duty had eventually chosen for her to marry. She wished him well. Maybe in another life their friendship would kindle a passion it had not here. Maybe he too would find the one he was meant to be with. He had mentioned once of a dream of an alien exotic that he still thought of. A vision that he had seen the night Reyla had died, and that he still dreamed of. Maybe on the cold primitive surface of Earth he would find her.

She had found her soul mate in this life, and it had been both a blessing and a curse. She would miss Khivar, to this day, ten years after he had chosen his cause, his path to power over her love, she still thought of him. Hopefully her sisters would have better luck, and that her essence would not still tie them to him. That they could break from the past and find new loves.

She watched as the man two places up was condemned. Watched as his body, now lifeless turned to ash. Soon to be her fate. She watched closely as the young girl ahead of her was pushed before the judges. She did not listen to the court. What would be the point, all of them knew going in what the judgment would be. There would be no reprieve, no last minute stay by order of the King. This court, these people had no mercy in them, no compassion for those of the old regime.

So a young girl of no more than fifteen was accursed. Who had she been, the daughter of a noble? Maybe the daughter of some bureaucrat that had displeased someone on the court, perhaps she was only someone in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong friends?

No matter. There would be no mercy for her either.

Vilondra watched as the glass of the girl’s eternal prison began to glow. She watched as strands of light shot from the mirror and ripped into the girl’s body. Vilondra watched as the young girl’s still living soul was torn from her body and carried still struggling, still trying to return to its rightful place, carried into the mirror. Where the image pounded and screamed for redemption. Redemption it would never receive. Vilondra watched as the girl’s less than lifeless body turned to ash.

It was her turn now.

She did not let herself be forced before the court. She walked before them proudly. Let them know that the evil actions of the day would one day be paid for. That while they may condemn her, damn her very soul, that someday justice would catch them. She scanned the crowd, but did not see Khivar. She felt her through her bond, and could feel that he was far away. At least he did not want to see this. She could feel that somehow through it all, he even yet loved her. As if it mattered, because it had not stayed or slowed his actions one bit.

Vilondra let the role of her crimes slide past her. She did not care what they had to say. As if it mattered. She raised her head once more so that they could get a good glance of the Seal. So that they would know what they were doing.

She felt something through it. It still linked her to the Granolith, still linked her to a power her people had only begun to understand. As she walked towards her doom, towards the mirror prison that would house her soul until it began to tatter and fail, she felt its siren call. Despite the suppressors she could still feel its power. Maybe she could fight her way out. Maybe her time was not yet over.

She looked over at the image of the girl. Tears still pooled in brown eyes now trapped forever, caught so young. She had been to young to have truly lived, too young to have truly experienced life or love. And Vilondra realized that Freedom was the wrong thing to wish for from the Granolith.

It was not fair to all those left trapped in the abominations that hung upon these walls. Her escape, her chance to bring their condemners to justice was not enough. For even if she failed, even if part of her was trapped, her sisters carried the rest of her. Part of her would always be free, and all of them would be forever trapped.

So she made a new request, made a new vow. And she waited to see whether the Granolith would accede to her request.

She heard the words, heard her summary judgment. She turned towards the mirror, the mirror that would be her new home. She saw her name lovingly burned into the mirrors gilded base: Vilondra Merise Alerin Tarenon – Condemned Traitor to the People. She saw the mirror begin to glow. She felt her soul pierced by the awful chains that bound the condemned. She felt as she was pulled toward the mirror. She could feel too as the link between her and her sisters jeopardized them as well, as their fledgling souls began to be pulled in along with hers.

She felt in turn a vast power rush through her. Her wish was to be granted, Liberation was to be granted. She felt herself torn in two as she was separated and divided between her two sisters. But not before she saw the outcome of her request. The wisp that remained of her consciousness was amazed at the power flowing into her, as every mirror in the hall began to glow. The Hall grew unbearably bright in the glare, and her last sight before fading was that of the young girl as she smiled.

And Vilondra the Second’s reign was ended.