Revelation - Epilogue (Patreon)

Iris

My fingers are shaking. They’re shaking extremely. I can hear the servants moving around me to fasten all the fancy buttons and ties on my dress, but I can’t bring myself to focus on anything other than my nerves. Even here in these palace walls, I can hear the deafening roar of the people on the outside. They’re all waiting.

Once we returned, Remus was true to his word. He rebuilt his family home, and months later we were married. I crowned Queen next to him. Ruling with him has not been a walk in the park. He’s used to having things his way, but I wouldn’t let that be. Not when his way involved so little compromise for everyone. Even though we disagree sometimes on the throne, we never carry our anger to our home.

I’ve been able to rule from within the palace walls. Remus explained to his people the betrayal of Braith and his people. He also explained to them me apparently. They’ve been patient and understanding in letting me stay out of the spotlight. Especially when my son arrived. But now the time is up. Now they will see me. And that terrifies me.

It’s been exhausting ruling. I’ve had to learn the language, learn how to cultivate the dormant power that remains in me, learn the history, learn the etiquette. All while raising a son. Being a mother is not second nature to me. I feel foreign, disconnected, and unsure of myself. I’m extremely lucky that Remus is so attentive though.

For him, it’s natural. Which was something I would have never expected. Especially since I’ve only known him in one kind of light our entire time of being together. I hear the door open and Sky’s voice carries over to me.

“They’re ready.” She says. I keep my gaze trained on the window but nod my head regardless. Sky has been staying by my side through all of this. Especially since she and Ezra are no longer together. It’s heartbreaking to think about for her, especially since she felt so strongly about him. She was always by his side. But now that she’s been erased from his memories, the only memory he has of humans and his time on Earth are horrendous. Especially since the first encounter with them for him was extreme torture. He won’t even look Sky’s way. Not without disdain.

He has no idea she risked her life for him. And she hasn’t been the same since.

I plaster on the best smile that I can, making my way towards the door. Sky gives me a soft smile.

“Don’t worry. They love you.” She says. I nod my head raising my chin and heading for the door.

~

I see Remus as we approach the archway. The sun is shining through casting a glow over him. He has his back to me as he speaks to his siblings. Xion and Ezra both are focused intensely on what it is he’s saying. Even though he has a squirming one-year-old in his arms.

They both nod their heads and walk towards me. I notice Sky tense beside me and grab her hand out of reflex, squeezing it to let her know I'm here. Ezra walks by without so much as glancing in her direction.

Remus turns to see me, his once serious gaze melting away as he smiles softly at me. He looks magnificent. His hair is pulled back halfway, and being held back by the crown that rests on his head. Even that can’t stop the energy that flows through him causing the constant movement of his hair. His purple gaze is shining bright. Brighter than usual, and the air around him crackles with electricity. He walks up to me meeting me halfway, placing a kiss on my forehead.

“You look stunning.” He says. I smile at him in thanks and look to Caspian. He plays in his father’s arms with his fingers, stuffing them in his mouth on occasion like it’s the most wonderful thing in the world. What I would give to be that carefree. I run my fingers over Caspian’s soft head and rest it on his cheek and he smiles at me in response. Reaching for my hands, but I pull them back out of instinct.

“Are you ready?” Remus pulls me out of my thoughts and I nod my head, unable to find the words. He laughs softly placing his hand on my cheek.

“Iris. Don’t be nervous they love you. You had a huge part in the integration of Braith’s people. You’ve helped from behind the walls in so many ways. It’s time they met their queen.” He says. I nod my head.

When we first arrived back, Remus’ plan was to put them to death. All of them. But I stepped in, and we came up with an agreement. A way for Braith’s people to live in peace among the . Not beneath them.

Remus grabs ahold of my hand and pulls me along the archway. He places a kiss on Caspian’s cheeks before smiling at me. I’ve never seen him so happy before. It makes me realize how far we’ve come. Remus is a being beyond comprehension. At one point I never could have guessed what was going through his mind. But now, he seems so much more… human.

He’s not so angry and closed off. He’s really realized just who he can be without the manipulation of his parents or people. He’s finally living his own life. I know I will never forgive him for the things he did to me in the past or my people. But it’s time for us to move forward together. We have a son together, and two kingdoms united together. We are one.

We step out onto the balcony and the roars grow even louder. Remus waves and gently rocks Caspian who smiles and nuzzles his father’s shoulder.

“My people. For a year you have wondered. For a year you have benefitted from her words and compassion, but have never seen her. For a year you have wanted to see the face of your savior and your advocator. It is my complete honor to finally reveal to you the Queen I do not deserve, but so wonderfully have. The Queen who has produced your prince and my heir, Caspian. Your Queen from Earth. Iris!” The crowd erupts in a frenzy. The people stretch on for miles, all gathered to see me.

Remus gently taps me on the back, and I remember to smile. I slowly raise my hand and give a small wave. I can feel the excitement of the people. Remus pulls me in close to him, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

“She is a woman I found on Earth. A woman that stood out among her people. A woman that can move past any obstacle in her path. I know she will do great things as your Queen. She already has for me.” He says. I can’t help myself. I smile. Hearing those words from his lips and hearing the crowd agree with them gives me joy.

I suddenly hear a chant arise throughout the crowd that gives me chills.

“Long live the Queen!”

~

“Breathe in, breathe out. Feel the energy around you. Feel the push and pull of the negative and the positive. Feel the motion of the energy as it pulls through every living thing, and becomes one with whatever is a part of its course.”

Remus coaxes me gently as I try and learn how to control and convert energy. It’s been hard, constant, and exhausting. But I’ll take this form of teaching over Braith’s any day.

“Very good. Now imagine it. Imagine a physical entity of what your energy looks like. Imagine it forming in your hand, and reaching out and grabbing it.” I try and do what he says when I feel a sharp pain on my palm.

“Ouch.” I hiss opening my eyes and immediately losing all concentration. Remus is next to me in an instant examining my hand.

“You’re distracted.” He says simply. He places his hand over mine and I can feel the warmth as he heals it. It’s been hard learning how to convert energy. I don’t see how Remus can do it so easily. When Braith was killed, there was no one to harness or control my power. And since I am what Remus likes to call an “energy-consuming being”, his whole focus has been to keep it dormant. Keep me human.

“That’s enough for tonight.” He murmurs. Caspian crawls in front of us grabbing for Remus. The night air is cool as it blows over us and we sit on the balcony together. The sun has set beneath the land and the stars are shining brightly above. I look at my palms in frustration.

“I spoke with the council,” Remus says. I look over to him as he lets Caspian use him as a jungle gym.

“About what?” I ask.

“About your request.” He says. My heart stops and my mind reels. Remus smiles at me.

“It’s been approved. We begin building ships tomorrow. We’ll get a crew ready, and a list of those willing to leave with you to start a new life of course.” He says. He begins to explain in more detail what all is going to happen but I’m not listening.

I’m going home. I’m going back to Earth. To bring back the population. A mission to find all the missing people, and bring them back to their home. A home that is extremely clean and fertile thanks to Remus and his earlier plans with the planet.

When he “destroyed” Earth, he sent the people away. He sent them to slave planets and with their masters. And those that wouldn’t leave were slaughtered. I’ll never be ok with what he did. But his plan was to make Earth a resource planet. Which means it is abundant in vegetation and livestock. All the pollution and smog and buildings and poverty are gone. It’s a fresh start.

And I am being sent to oversee all of it.

“What about Caspian?” I ask. If all goes well this will take years. And I can’t take him with me. Remus doesn’t miss a beat.

“I’ll raise him here, of course, among his people. Where he can learn to use his power. We’ll come to visit at times and you can come to visit at times.” He says.

“This is the opportunity you’ve been fighting for, Iris.” He says. I lower my gaze thinking to myself about his words. He uses the silence to add his opinion.

“Or you can stay and raise him and be his mother.” He adds. I don’t miss the tone he gives me. Remus’ mother was awful to him as a child. Having me in Caspian’s life is very important to him. But I would never bring my son to Earth. Not in this state.

Remus wants me to stay. But Remus doesn’t dictate me. Not anymore. He’s changed so much since Braith kidnapped me. Even though I can see it eats him alive to let me go.

I smile at him, reaching over to give him a hug. I listen to his heartbeat under my ears and take in his warmth.

“Thank you.” I murmur. I feel his hand on my hair and he places a kiss on my head.

It’s moments like these that I will cherish and hold on to forever. Each day I live with Remus, I expect him to wake up and return to the man he once was. I expect him to become cruel and take away my freedoms and torture me as he did. But he hasn’t. If anything, he’s shown me a side of him I didn’t think possible.

He’s been through a lot as the being that he is. And I can do nothing but love him for it. In my own weird way, I do. He is slowly going from the monster that conquered my world to the man that is the center of it.

I look off into the land as the kingdom beyond us lights up with the nightlife. Our Kingdom. A peaceful world that isn’t perfect, but consists of both of our ideals. I’m getting chills just thinking about the future I have in store for Earth. My home.

“I love you.” I murmur. Caspian coos above me and Remus gently pets my hair as I stare off into the night. I cherish moments like these. Moments when for a second, everything is perfect. Nothing can ruin it. Nothing.

We sit silently watching the night go on around us, just cherishing each other’s presence. I have no idea what the future will hold with Remus, but I’m more than ready to face it head-on. Because I know with him by my side everything will be ok.

Because he’s the one person I can’t live without. He’s my love. He’s my King.

And whether we’re here or on Earth…

He’s my world.