Memories (Lilith x Reader) *DISCONTINUED*

The Crowning of the Queens (Young Adult Y/N)

You fly, at a nearly frantic pace, back to the Emperor's Castle. There's no way you can tell Belos about this development, but when you know something he doesn't, he can always tell. This information is too valuable not to tell him, but at the same time you don't want to put Edalyn in danger. She is one of your oldest friends after all, you, her, and Lilith having been quite close in your childhood. Oh titan, Lilith. You know you need to tell her about this, she deserves to know how Edalyn is doing after all these years, but at the same time it will make it even easier for Belos to extract the information if more people know it. Pondering this dilemma as you land back at the Emperor's Castle, you decide that you'll tell Lilith. Just, it will have to wait until after the promotion ceremony.
You check the time as you walk through the halls, seeing that it's 10:25. Only a few minutes until you're expected back in your office to look over new coven applicants and judge whether or not they're fit to join the Emperor's Coven. There are many more openings this year, nearly fifteen. If only that had been the case ten years ago. You sigh as you open the door to your office at exactly 10:30, both because of thinking about that day and because you see the massive stack of papers on your desk. Swallowing your complaints, you sit down and read about the first applicant. Good grades, decent credentials, magically adept, high status. You put that paper in the 'consider' pile and take another one. The work is mind numbing, and after four or five more all of the people begin to blur together. Despite it being bad work ethic, you absorb none of the information and don't think that you'll be able to relay any memorable applications to Emperor Belos should he ask for one. When you've finally finished going through the enormous pile of applications, you proceed to look through all of the ones you put in the 'consider' pile a second time just in case. Some of them are more qualified than others, but you believe that any of them could survive in the coven well enough.
Your alarm rings once again, notifying you that it's nearly noon and that you need to hurry to the main stage on one of the upper castle levels. Not ready to do stairs in your fancy getup, you summon your staff and zoom through the halls to your destination. You arrive just as Lilith does, and the two of you share a quick but passionate kiss before you emerge to greet the crowds currently enraptured by Emperor Belos's speech about why this crowning is so special.
"Now, I'd like to introduce your soon-to-be Co-Heads of the Emperor's Coven!" Belos announces. You and Lilith look at each other and smile. Today is the day your dreams come true, your destinies on the other side of that curtain. You each put a hand on the side and pull, revealing yourselves to the crowd. They go wild for your outfits and the dramatic entrance, and you and Lilith bow your heads in a nod acknowledging them. The nod also allows you one final nervous look at the floor before you pass the point of no return, since despite all your obvious excitement, you're very nervous for what this new job and rank will bring for you.
As you raise your head once more, you catch Lilith's eye and she gives you a reassuring smile, putting you more at ease. Whatever you may face as Coven Head, you know that you'll at least be facing it with her by your side. Belos raises his hands to quiet the crowd, and resumes his speech.
"As all of you should know, I ascended to control the Boiling Isles 50 years ago, banishing wild magic and instating the coven system. Since that time, I have only had one head of my coven. Unfortunately, he just recently passed away, leaving the spot open for someone new. Someone both experienced enough to handle the position, but young enough that I won't need a new replacement soon. Someone powerful, but also sympathetic to the needs of other coven members. I had had these two in mind for quite a while, as they fit all of the qualifications, but the question of 'which one to choose?' remained constant. Then I realized, nothing was stopping me from choosing both." Belos finished, and the crowd applauded both for you and Lilith and for their emperor's stroke of genius. He beckons to Lilith, who kneels in front of him. This ritual is where the term 'crowning' came from, since it resembles the crowning of kings in old stories.
Belos places a hand on Lilith's shoulder and holds the other one high above her head drawing the spell circle for an unbreakable oath with his staff. When complete, he sends it down over Lilith, completely covering her in a pink sheen. You realize while you look at the crowd that they can't really see it, and just think that something is slightly holding up the ceremony. Belos lowers his staff once the spell circle vanishes and, under Belos's guidance, Lilith begins the Coven Head oath.
"I promise that as the new head of the Emperor's Coven, I will fulfill all duties asked of me, I will not abuse my power in any way, and I will keep no secrets from the Emperor. I will do my best to uphold the system set in place by the Emperor, and I will not hesitate to bring in any wild witches I may come across to face judgment. I understand that breaking any of these promises will result in my banishment from the coven, and so I will comply with all of the rules and guidelines that come with this newfound station. Emperor Belos, do you accept my pledge?"
"I do," Belos responds. "Stand, Lilith Clawthorne, and embrace the coveted position of Head Coven Leader of the Emperor's Coven." Lilith stands, offering the crowd a gracious smile. They applaud for their new leader as you move to take Lilith's place, your hands brushing ever so slightly as you pass each other. You lock pinkies for half a second, a reminder of your promise to each other to never speak of your romance to Belos. It's a direct violation of the oath she just took, but you both believe that if Belos really means all he just said about the two of you, then he won't inquire into how you spend time together outside of work.
You let go of Lilith's pinkie as the two of you break away from your passing, and you drop down to one knee in front of Belos. Being in this position is much more nerve wracking than watching Lilith do the same, so you sneak a glance at her to calm yourself. Her presence, now much more formidable as Coven Head, provides you with what you need to make it through this ceremony. You feel the metal of Belos's glove on your shoulder, mentally cursing yourself for wearing something sleeveless, and though you can't see it, you know that right now he must be casting the unbreakable oath. The completed spell circle slides over you, causing a chill, but you don't shiver. Any movement now other than that of your mouth saying the oath will be frowned upon. With a squeeze from Belos, you begin.
"I promise that as the new head of the Emperor's Coven, I will fulfill all duties asked of me, I will not abuse my power in any way, and I will keep no secrets from the Emperor," you begin, trailing off a little bit after the first sentence. You already have multiple secrets, after all, and who knows how the oath works? It may make you spill them all right after completing it. You and Lilith have already accepted that risk regarding your relationship, but what about what you saw today on patrol? You can't keep Edalyn safe forever, but despite the oath you do want to try. You don't know another way to preserve that sense of friendship you still feel for her. Realizing that you've hesitated a bit too long, you resume speaking and finish your oath, ending with the question of acceptance for Emperor Belos.
That question is really more of a formality anyways, since he picks the candidates who swear the oath, but for him to actively say that yes, he does want you leading his coven, sends tingles of joy down your spine. The position that you've longed for since you were a young student at Hexside is finally yours, held with your best friend, your girlfriend, and it makes it feel like everything you've dreamed of has finally come to pass. You stand, a new aura about you, and smile. Lilith walks up to you and grasps your hand, and both of you wave to the crowd as their new Co-Head Coven Leaders.
You expect that to be the end of the ceremony, but then Lilith casts a projection spell, creating a giant hologram of you both over the crowd and magnifying your voices. The people below chant for a speech, and Lilith seems happy to oblige. You know this is right up her alley, so you figure you'll just sit back and watch your girlfriend keep the audience excited, but her grip on your hand keeps you stuck inside her hologram spell. As much as you're not a fan of public speaking, you know there's no getting out of this one. Even so, Lilith still wants her time in the spotlight first.
"Thank you all," she begins. "Y/N and I have had quite the journey leading up to this moment." Lilith looks at you with a knowing glance and you give a 'those were the times' chuckle for the crowd to dismiss it. In reality, you know that she's referring to Edalyn and the curse. "We've both done many things, good and bad, to reach this point in our lives, but it wouldn't have been possible without the support of this coven and our fellow members. They were there for us throughout our whole journey and now it's our turn to protect them and lift them up from our new positions." A chorus of 'awww' is heard coming from the crowd below. Lilith managed to touch their hearts, just like she always touches yours. The pause after she finishes indicates that it's your turn to speak. You sigh, dreading it, but the people have to trust you as Coven Head. Plus, this won't be your only speech. It's a part of the job after all.
"Lilith's right, like always," you affirm, ginning a few light chuckles from the crowd below. You take a deep breath to steel yourself before continuing. "But of course, there are others who helped us along this path as well. Most specifically, my friend and Lilith's sister, Edalyn Clawthorne." Lilith looks at you in shock. It isn't exactly smart to bring up a wild witch at a celebration of the coven dedicated to hunting them down, but you feel like you owe this speech to Edalyn, especially after seeing her again today. "Although she isn't here with us, it was our dream as girls to join the Emperor's Coven together. I personally think she'd be proud, and that is one of the many reasons I'm so happy to be standing here today." You bow your head a little as a sign of respect to Edalyn before Lilith picks up the thread once more.
"Of course she'd be proud, this is what we always wanted. Now, under the guidance of Emperor Belos, Y/N and I will be able to make the Boiling Isles a better, safer place in a new age of controlled magic!" The crowd applauds one final time before you and Lilith curtsy and take your leave. Offstage, you collapse into her arms. The speech and being in front of all of those people was not as bad as you anticipated, but sharing this private moment with Lilith makes you feel better than any crowd's applause. Hand in hand, the two of you return to your quarters for a short break before work resumes, and lose yourselves in your first kiss as Coven Heads.
When Lilith finally breaks away, you look down with uncertainty. The kiss felt so nice, but it also felt wrong. Despite hiding your relationship from Belos for ten years, both of you had now made an unbreakable oath to never keep secrets from him. Speaking of secrets, you look at Lilith seriously.
"Lilith," you begin, "I have something I need to tell you..."

Cliffhanger! Kind of. Not much else to say about this one, so I hope you all enjoyed this and I'll see you in the next chapter! Which may come late because I got sick :')

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