In the Wildflowers (Part Two)

The trial

She was an irritable Queen. Use to the traditions and long but trivial meetings, her whole life she'd done them. This new found craving for adventure never seemed to cease though. With her eyes waning between red and gold she was still unable to go on her own so the three kings had kept her busy with attending trials. In her ostentatious green dress, she looked like a force to be reckoned with. Her hair cascaded around her bare shoulders, ivory skin the perfect canvas to showcase the beautiful Volturi pendant she wore. The mid century ballgown billowing over her in a sea of emerald green and gold, she looked as royal as ever. Everyone in the castle concluded she was created to be seated on the throne.

Carlisle had already been gone for several weeks, Sheridan's cellphone had been attached to her ear most of time unless he was at work. This new found awareness of her own soul was not in her favour during these times.

"Sheridan, you've been day dreaming." Jasper leaned just shoulder against the throne she was seated on.

"This is bloody treacherous. It's so bad it's making the old timey Brit come out in me." Jasper had been a god send these past few weeks, he was the only thing that made her feel somewhat at home. He also entertained her during everything they did whether it was combat or control. Sheridan was seeing Jasper in a different light during their time together, it was intriguing to see what a strategist he truly was. To bad he can't seem to use his skills in poker.

"At least there's is only one more." Aro stood giving his final verdict, Sheridan followed suit to her new brothers and raised her hand in agreement, not even bothering to pay attention in the first place. The sound of stone cracking and the smell of smoke filled the room and just as fast it was gone. She had been use to death, after all Russia was not unfamiliar to unfair trial and punishment. She'd never been centre stage but she'd been all to aware of what happened behind closed doors.

"Sheridan dear, your turn I believe?" The brothers had been passing off their duties of executioner between themselves while she'd been here. She never expected to have to do it herself though. The hesitancy was clear on her face since Aro spoke up. "Carlisle himself was able to execute a woman here for her crimes, I have no doubt that you can as well." Jasper and Sheridan were both surprised. Carlisle kill someone? Not something you could wrap your head around. Waning flags went off in Sheridan's head, different possible scenarios for whatever made Carlisle snap like that.

"Very well, let's get on with this." Her impatience was not surprising to the relaxed brothers. None could imagine spending their early newborn days mastering control and without their mate whom they've known already. Sympathy was all they could offer.

"Revealing yourself to humans in order to recruit an army? Promising them a grand new life." A vampire kneeled on the marble floor. Sheridan could never understand why people tried to over throw others. It had been everyone's mission to take over the Volturi she learned, the longer she spent with them the more she thought people with that idea were truly stupid. Centuries of combat training and strategy, how could you truly think you'd win against them.

"You have no evidence!" The eye roll couldn't be held back from anyone. A single touch and Aro knew a person whole life and this man really thought they had no evidence. Sheridan sat in her spot, this time observing the man kneeling on the floor. His clothes were tattered and eyes widened in a crazed stare. Her thoughts trailed to the long life he could have lived. Was it possible that he wasn't always crazy, that immortality did that to him. With such a long life what else is there to do but slowly slip into insanity. Her stomach churned at the idea of slowly losing her grasp on reality over time, what if this happened to her. What if she was not cut out to live forever. Jasper stood back, his feet sloshing in the water pooling at the base of the throne. He watched as is scaled the wood as if it were vines winding around an old house. This was a new discovery.

     The kings attention was pulled from the guilty verdict they were to be announcing. The sound of running water meeting their ears. Sheridan was still in a daze, her hands gripped firmly on the armrests now wrapped in the tendrils of water.

     "How marvellous." Aro's hand touched her lightly, the water disappearing as she became in touch with reality once again.

     "Sorry, is it time?" Sheridan brushed a loose curl from her cheek and stood proud in front of the first king. Aro looked quite shocked, it's like she did not even notice her doings.

     "Yes it is. All in favour of punishment." The four royals raised their hand slightly. Ciaus taking a seat smugly as he watched Sheridan descend. He had Athenadora in his life but there was something about watching Sheridan that made Ciaus crave a brave wife. Not one who stayed locked in a tower. Perhaps it was a bit of a power trip for him, seeing the grand dress pull behind her as she smiled at the next victim. He needed to get a grip or Carlisle would have his head.

     "We've heard of you, Mrs. Cullen. The first Queen to ever head an execution." Who hadn't heard of her. A rich human woman that lived under the spot light of news channels and journalists. Anyone in the vampire world certainly knew of her, Carlisle didn't do the best job of keeping a low profile around her.

     "Everyone has heard of me. I don't take lightly to the tone you are using." Like she watched so many time, she wrapped her fingers around his jaw, just grazing his neck. "I'm a little new to this so mind my lack of grace."

     Off with his head he went. Sheridan's new found strength was baffling to her. She dropped the stone head to the crowd, watching it role at her feet. This was not the life she was cut out for. The dresses, the castle and the curtsying was all a fun dress up game. Court and executions are not what she was meant to be doing with the rest of her life. Jasper had made her comfortable here, the three kinds doting and courteous at her every request. All that was missing we Carlisle. Until now.

     "I won't ask Carlisle to sit on the throne again. I will not live this life and I will not force him to live it either. We are both educated, invested in the new world. I cannot give that up yet."

     "I am disappointed but I understand. You are young, the world at your finger tips, quite literally now. One day you will wish to rule though Sheridan. When the world offers you nothing more I will welcome you onto the throne."

     "Perhaps one day Aro. We will still pop in frequently, I don't think I'm ready to give up the dresses entirely." Disappointment was somewhat of an understatement. The Volturi had plans but they needed the throne full. The needed every royal figure head present and on board. Sheridan was a secret weapon to winning the vote of confidence. She was powerful, political and the perfect face of the Volturi. A little rebranding and trips to the covens around the world and they could reinvent the Volturi name. The war against their reign could cease and they could rule with respect and confidence from their people.

     "I would hope so. Carlisle has been gone from home for far to long. It's good to have him around." Family. Something Sheridan had forgotten about up until this very moment.

     "Aro I have a request for my coronation."

     "We have many things to discuss today, let's move to a more comfortable spot. I suspect it will be a long time before we move again." Jasper escorted Sheridan to one of the many lounge rooms. In the last few weeks she made her mission to visit every room the castle held, it took much longer than she thought but she got it done. Sheridan even managed to find her way into some old stone passages that lead to various exits around the territory.

     "So what is it we will be speaking about today?"

     "My parents, what do you all wish to speak about?"

     "Your gift my dear." It would be a long night indeed.