Red Queen One-Shots

Broken Circles - Time Travel AU

Based on my writing prompt: In the alternate opening of Glass Sword, Shade is a time traveller who takes Mare into the future while future!Mare stays in the past.

Contains several veiled and less veiled King's Cage spoilers.

Mare POV

The train is supposed to arrive at its destination in one hour. So far, Shade tries to fill me in about the most basic differences and events in this "timeline". He is careful with choosing his words, but he is very thorough. Too thorough. At times, I suspect that he extravagates on details to avoid some more vital points: It has taken me several direct questions to figure out that Maven still rules a small, but sustaining and fortified area around Archeon. To my surprise, he's allied and married to a Lakelands princess. He has been fought by Cal for a long time until Cal has died eventually, a few months ago.

My heart cramps at the mention of him, but I can't allow myself to feel pity for him. He has chosen to take back his throne at all costs, so Shade explains to me. Cal has been bolstered up by his grandmother Anabel Lerolan and several other High Houses.

"They've disbanded now," Shade adds. "They've become their own warlords, like so many others. Norta is shattered by those civil wars."

Yet one house is in league with us, the Reds and the Scarlet Guard. Samos. That has to be the reason for Evangeline's presence in Scarlet Guard facilities. I stare at her at this revelation, but she doesn't reply with anything but a raised eyebrow.

Our destination is a safe house set into a mountainous area. We have to climb for another hour before we reach the house itself which is built next to a turquoise lake. I try to pry for more information about Shade's strange ability, something I can barely grasp.

"That's something for a more calm moment," he pants, evading me.

"And what about our family?"

He freezes for a second, then turns to me and grabs my shoulders. "I know this must be very difficult for you, Mare," he says. "But - several years have passed. I can't tell you everything randomly. We have to - " he stops as he notices my frown. His dissembling starts to make me angry, just like Evangeline's indifference towards me, or her amusement about my ignonarance, shown by her rolling her eyes when Shade doesn't see her.

Shade swallows. "They're alright, okay? They're with the Scarlet Guard, though Tramy has taken to more mundane tasks, and so does Gisa. Mom and Dad are in Monfort right now. So. That's enough for you?" He holds my gaze until I nod to him.

"I see."

"Are you done discussing?" Evangeline calls from the side. "I don't intend to wait in the open all day."

I glare at her until she smiles back, to my surprise. We move into the base.

I am to take residence in a small room with two beds. One of them is obviously occupied already. "Ella is currently on duty," Shade says. "You'll meet her soon. The bathrooms are that way," he adds and points in the direction. "Dinner is in half an hour. We'll talk afterwards," he concludes and leaves me alone with my thoughts.

I'm unsure if I want to lie down or keep on running. While the trek has taken some of the egde off, I still feel charged in this strange place - and time - I've stranded in. I wonder about the "other" Mare - has she friends here? And what will she do in the past? The feeling of betrayal kicks in again. I don't know the game that is played here. But I have to find out.

Eight persons have gathered in the dining room when I arrive. I'm late, and food is being served already. I see Shade setting at a table that is half-empty and I take the place next to him, with Evangeline opposite to me. She lounges on her chair, one leg propped against the table. I look around, but I don't recognize anyone else. Next to Evangeline is a blue-haired woman who grins as she notices my observations.

"I'm Ella," she says, and waves her hand. Ella, I remember, my roommate.

"I'm Mare," I answer, and she nods. She is decent enough not to make smart remarks though I guess she's well acquainted with the future me. Or yet another version of me. I grab my plate and try not to think too hard about it all, but the ideas are picking at me. I need more information.

More latecomers show up. This time, it's a little girl and an older man. The girl rushes to the seat opposite to Shade and starts talking. "You're back! And you brought Mare with you ..?" she asks, like she's taken aback, and I flinch.

Another person who knows me already.

I wonder if she goes on to introduce herself to me, but she continues to talk to my brother. "You went away without telling me!" she accuses him. "I wanted to come with you!"

He sighs.

"I'm not so little anymore, and I'm getting better with the jumping, I'll be really helpful. And Grandfather trains with -"

"Clara."

"Dad."

I raise my eyes from my food, searching for the girl's father. But she hasn't turned around, she's still glaring at Shade, and he stares back.

By the forgotten gods.

I haven't realized their striking resemblance before , going down to their golden eyese. My jaw drops as my head spins to and fro.

"Take care to keep the food in your mouth, Lightning Girl," Evangeline taunts me. I shut my mouth. She still seems bored and blasé, but a faint smile plays on her face.

"Shade...?" I ask baffled.

He takes my hand. "Yeah, this is my daughter Clara. Clara, this is Mare from September 320. She doesn't know you yet, so don't fool around with her."

Clara rolls her eyes. "Yes, Dad. Hello, Aunt Mare."

"Hi," I say, still fighting my surprise and making assumptions in my head. She can't much younger than eight or nine, which shocks me even more. And who is her mother? No one sits on Shade's other side and I look to Evangeline again, disbelieving, yet thinking about how familiar she's been with Shade on the train ...

"Don't glare at me, Barrow," she snorts and I blink. It can't be. "Well, are you her ... ?"

She laughs coarsely. "O my, it gets better every time, Barrow. I have certainly never been that close to your brother." Good. Good.

Clara has frowned at me the whole time, her expression strangely familiar. Shade takes my hand again, forming words in his mouth, but it's Clara who answers.

"My mother is dead, Mare. It happened six years ago."

She says it boldly, but she lowers her head soon, her fork drawing circles on her plate. "I've hoped to come with Dad to see her again, just for a moment," she explains. Our eyes meet as she continues. "You know her, don't you? Diana Farley?"

I try my best not to blink. "I do," I reply. "I'm sorry." The girl nods and Shade grabs my hand tighter. I turn to him and see the resolve in his face.

Now I know whom he wants to save by changing the past.

Commentary

Ever writing a sequel would be some worldbuilding mindfuck, like all time-travel stories. But this scene wrote itself and I needed another instance to fangirl Fade, this time with my favourite AU prompt, reserved roles.

I know I walk a thin line between comedy and angst, I hope it's balanced, without too many useless details.

Mare is veeeeery wary of Evangeline because I think it makes sense. That woman has bullied her for a month and has just tried to kill her a few hours ago. We'd need another AU to stop their rivalry.